Greetings!
What a grand and glorious day it was last Friday as Mildred Curtis officially cut the ribbon at the dedication of the new 60-bed supportive, transitional housing unit for men named the Carl and Mildred Curtis Center. Standing behind Mrs. Curtis and speaking at this occasion are Nebraska First Lady, Sally Gannen, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry and Mayor Chris Beutler.
The late Senator Carl Curtis and his wife, Mildred, have been instrumental in the growth of People's City Mission for a number of years. Many current donors were introduced to the Mission by Carl and Mildred. Mildred Curtis was one of the founding Directors of the People's City Mission Foundation. A business woman in her own right, Mildred was particularly interested in construction projects at the Mission. We we were greatly blessed by her knowledge and input.
Carl T. Curtis represented the State of Nebraska for a total of 40 years in Federal Government. He was first elected a Congressman in 1938 where he served until 1954. He was elected to the Senate in 1954 and continued there until 1979 when he returned to Lincoln to practice law. In recognition of his years of service, other Nebraska buildings have been named for Carl Curtis: The Carl T. Curtis Midwest Regional Headquarters of the National Park Service in Omaha and The Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center on the Omaha American Indian Reservation in Macy, Nebraska.
I would like to end this weeks Monday at the Mission with the following quote from Senator Curtis' book, To Remind. These are words that I think exemplify his philosophy that "it is in giving that we receive."
"Someone once said that when you find yourself where there is no one to help you, that you should look around and see if there is someone that you can help. This is good advice. Our problems tend to lessen greatly when our attention is focused on the needs of others instead of ourselves. In the Holy Scriptures we read, "Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Gal.6:2.
Surely it was to that end that Carl and Mildred gave of themselves in making this center a reality in the life of the People's City Mission and thus in the lives of the many who will occupy its rooms. So, Thank You, Carl and Mildred ... not only for this Center but for reminding us that "it is in giving that we receive." And on that note I want to express my thanks to the many of you who are such generous donors and providers in the bearing of the burdens of others.
