H. Res. 209 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
October 13, 2009. 
Whereas generations of Greek-Americans have worked along-
side their fellow Americans to build a more perfect 
Union, and the United States is a stronger country be-
cause of them; 
Whereas Greek-Americans have served ably in their commu-
nities in numerous capacities, such as government, in-
cluding five-term Maryland Senator Paul S. Sarbanes, 
and in the Armed Services in every war in which the 
United States fought since World War I, including patri-
ots such as George Dilboy, a World War I Medal of 
Honor recipient; 
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope is a leading international 
organization 
of 
women 
of 
Hellenic 
descent 
and 
Philhellenes, founded November 16, 1929, in San Fran-
cisco, California, to improve the status and well-being of 
women and their families and to provide women the op-
portunity to make significant contributions to their com-
munity and country; 
Whereas the mission of the Daughters of Penelope is to pro-
mote the ideals of ancient Greece (namely, philanthropy, 
education, civic responsibility, good citizenship, and fam-
ily and individual excellence) through community service 
and volunteerism;
•HRES 209 EH 
Whereas the chapters of the Daughters of Penelope sponsor 
affordable and dignified housing to the Nation’s senior 
citizen population by participating in the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development’s section 202 housing 
program; 
Whereas Penelope House, a domestic violence shelter for 
women and their children sponsored by the Daughters of 
Penelope, is the first of its kind in the State of Alabama 
and is recognized as a model shelter for others to emulate 
throughout the United States; 
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc., sup-
ports the educational objectives of the Daughters of Pe-
nelope by providing tens of thousands of dollars annually 
for scholarships, sponsoring educational seminars, and 
donating children’s books to libraries, schools, shelters, 
and churches through the ‘‘Open Books’’ program; 
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope is the first ethnic organi-
zation to submit oral history tapes to the Library of Con-
gress, the tapes that provide an oral history of first gen-
eration Greek-American women in the United States; 
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope promotes awareness and 
research on medical diseases, such as cancer, thalassemia 
(Cooley’s anemia), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), 
Alzheimer’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and others; 
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope provides financial sup-
port for many medical research and charitable organiza-
tions, such as the University of Miami Sylvester Com-
prehensive Cancer Center (formerly the Papanicolaou 
Cancer Center), the Alzheimer’s Foundation, the Amer-
ican Heart Association, the Special Olympics, the Bar-
bara Bush Foundation for Literacy, the Children’s Wish
•HRES 209 EH 
Foundation, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, St. Basil 
Academy, and others; 
Whereas Greek-American directors and performers, such as 
Elia Kazan, Olympia Dukakis, and Maria Callas, en-
riched the arts, and medical researcher, Dr. George Pa-
panicolaou, also known as the ‘‘The Father of Cytology’’, 
saved millions of lives by inventing the Pap Test; 
Whereas countless Greek-Americans have risen to become 
leaders of commerce and industry, thus fulfilling the 
‘‘American Dream’’; 
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope provides support and fi-
nancial assistance to victims and communities affected by 
natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and 
forest fires; 
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope, founded November 16, 
1929, celebrates its 80th anniversary as a preeminent 
international women’s association and affiliate organiza-
tion of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive 
Association (AHEPA); and 
Whereas Americans can trace the concept and ideals of de-
mocracy to the ancient Greeks: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes 
the significant contributions of American citizens of Greek 
ancestry and Philhellenes, and the Daughters of Penelope to 
the United States. 
Attest: 
Clerk.