[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 23405] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]MEMORIAM FOR ANNA SUGI, COMMUNITY LEADER AND HEALTH CARE VISIONARY ______ HON. JERRY LEWIS of california in the house of representatives Tuesday, December 21, 2010 Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I would like to join today with my friend and colleague Congressman Buck McKeon in a memoriam to Anna Sugi, a community leader and pioneering advocate for women's health issues in her hometown of Apple Valley, California. Ms. Sugi passed away Dec. 16, but will be long-remembered by her friends and supporters. A native of Brindisi, Italy, Anna Sugi came to Apple Valley in 1982, when her husband Ron Sugi was stationed at the former George Air Force Base in California's High Desert region. After an education in health care, Anna Sugi took a job as an office clerk in a local medical office. Over 20 years, she worked her way up to become the chief administrative officer of Choice Medical Group, a High Desert medical provider that has specialized in women's health. Under her leadership, the group established a Health and Wellness Center in 2008, focusing on helping women through the process of aging. Working to expand health outreach efforts to the all members of the community, Anna Sugi in 2000 founded the Today's Woman Expo. The first events drew a few hundred people for information on preventive health care and providing tools to help women improve their lives and physical well-being. The event has grown tremendously, serving more than 2,000 women annually in the past few years. They are provided free breast exams, career counseling and an expanding range of services. Today's Woman is now a non-profit foundation that provides health screenings throughout the year and raises funds for scholarships and grants to High Desert women. Beyond her pioneering work with the Expo, Anna Sugi has served on the Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee and is a 13-year member of Rotary International Victorville Chapter. She has worked with High Desert Resources Network on programs to fight childhood obesity. She was honored in 2009 by the Victorville Daily Press as one of the area's Most Inspiring Women. Even as she became a leader in bringing women's health care to the entire community, Anna Sugi waged her own quiet battle against breast cancer. Yet she continued working hard on expanding women's health services until dying peacefully at age 50. In addition to her legacy of service, Ms. Sugi leaves a personal legacy in her children, Mark and Michelle, who will both graduate from UCLA Medical School in June and plan to continue her work in community health. Madam Speaker, Anna Sugi was respected and loved throughout the High Desert region. A group of physicians have already raised $35,000 for the Anna Sugi Endowment Fund to provide scholarships for needy students. I ask my colleagues to join Congressman McKeon and me in offering condolences to her family, and in praising the life and legacy of this community leader. ____________________