Evening star., 1944-05-16

ored at a testimonial luncheon yes
terday by about 200 associates and
friends, offered them a slogan which
she pointed out has worked to help
improve certain conditions in WASH
ington. 1t was:
Don't give up. Be an optimist." 2"
That her own lifelong habit of
optimism-coupled with hard work
and determination to achieve her
objectives-has made lasting
record of accomplishment was at
tested by the tributes of eight
leaders in civic, social and religious
work of the Capital.
From Chairman DAlesandro of
the House District Subcommittee on
Public Health, came assurance that
members were always very happy"
to have Mrs. Ufford appear before
them. "She gives you feeling of
security" he said, because every
thing she asks for is humane"
"Ex-Oficio Member"
Mr.. D'Alesandro added the Dis
trict Committee has always re-
garded Mrs. Ufford as an ex-offlcio''
member.
Other titles bestowed on her at
the luncheon held at the Mayf1ower
Hotel included rowing ambassador
for the District" "a real crusader"
and mother of the underprivileged.
The event, which marked a half
century of Mrs. Uffords service in
various welfare social agencies, both
in a professional capacity and as a
volunteer, was arranged by a COM
mittee of IS, headed by Coleman
Jennings, campaign chairman of
the Community War Fund and past
president of the Community Chest
The occasion also was a tribute to
her husband, the, late DR.. Walter
4 Uford, as speakers recalled how the
two had worked together. Both came
to Washington from Baltimore in
1909 when DR.. Ufford was made
general secretary of the Associated
Charities and Mrs. Ufford was his
assistant in charge of case work
They were married in 1913, but Mrs
Uford continued her interest in the
work as volunteer.
Called Real Crusaders.
The Rt. Rev. John O'Grady, de-
scribing the Uffords as real cru
saders," declared they were always
able to get a following because lone
| got the spirit and felt that here
were people able to get things done
Msgr. O'Grady, who recalled Mrs
Uford's early interest in slum clear
ance, took the occasion to warn that
there is now powerful movement
to wipe out all that has been done. ~
Elimination of public housing, he as
serted, would send people back to
the slums."
Miss Katharine F.. Lenroot. chief
OF the Children's Bureau, recalled
that as a young woman Mrs. Ufford
had become associated with some
OF the most prominent pioneers in
social work. Reviewing her work in
many different fields here, Miss
Lenroot pointed out it included "all
legislation pertaining to welfare in
the District"
One Of the reasons the luncheon
was arranged, Miss Lenroot said,
was because I'VE need to draw in
splration ourselves from the
achievements of one entitled TO feel
this is her commencement day."
Other Speakers Heard.
Other speakers included Miss
Mabel T. Boardman of the Amer
lcan Red Cross; DR.. John Van
Schalck. Jr,; Mr.. Jennings, Her
bert l.. Willett, jr.; executive direc-
tor OF the Community War Fund,
and Ray H. Everett, executive Sec
retary of the, District Social Hv-
glene Society, who was POSTMASTER
Miss Boardman expressed the
appreciation and affection" of the
Red Cross for Mrs. Ufford's work in
home service for men of the armed
forces IN the World War and DR..
Van Schaick declared that through
the years she had stood for cour-
age, steadfastness, insight and
pertlnacity-and for all those
things that make a community
great"
A leather bound volume con-
tanning the signatures of au the
guests as we'll as space for mes
sages and clippings was presented
TO Mrs. Ufford by Mr.. Willett. He,
work on Capitol Hill for which she
is well known was depicted in q
cartoon by Jim Bergman included
in the volume.
Mrs. Ufford, whose youthful an
pearance bellies her n years, tolo
the group she seemed to be destined
for social work. Even as a little
girl in Baltimore County, she said
my ambition was to move into the
city so l could live in the slums
and help my neighbors."
In recalling that she had beer
accused" of being an optimist
she said that it was optimism which
Man Cario,eIv Lur&