Mr. Speaker, each year I am honored to recognize the outstanding and invaluable contributions of the African American community that have built this great Nation. The enduring impact and lasting legacy of countless African Americans must always be appreciated. Every year I pay tribute to African American men and women who exemplify this spirit of selfless and patriotic service.

I rise today to pay tribute to a truly gifted leader of the Tampa Bay community, Evangeline Best. Her boundless energy and constant civic engagement are an inspiration to all. Today, I am grateful to recognize her innumerable contributions to Hillsborough County. 

Evangeline Best is a native Floridian who was raised in Tampa. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina and a Masters in Education at Florida A&M University. Ms. Best has been a tireless advocate for community development and education as a means of ending poverty. Ms. Best’s impressive career in education began in Tampa where she worked for over 27 years as a Family Services Worker for Hillsborough County Schools and completed the last 5 years as the Family Services Coordinator.

While Ms. Best’s career already involved offering a tremendous service to the community, she was still deeply committed on her own time to the betterment of lives in Hillsborough County. She served as Chairman of the East Tampa School Community Partnership as well as Vice Chairwoman of the Heart of East Tamp-Front Porch, Inc. Both are organization critical to the success of East Tampa and Hillsborough County. Currently she serves on a number of vital committees including Vice Chair of the Corporation to Develop Communities in Tampa, Inc., and as a member of the Board of Directors with the West Central Florida Area Aging Advisory Committee, as well as a member of the Florida State Fair Diversity Committee.  She also volunteers weekly with the Abe Brown Ministries Family Reunification Video Visitation Program and is a consultant for REACH UP, Inc.  

Given her outstanding efforts, Ms. Best has received a number of honors and awards including the 2010 Bank of America "Volunteer Hero Award", the 2005 National Head Start Association "Lifetime Achievement Award", and the 2005 Neighborhood Works New Horizons "Dorothy Richardson Award" for Community Leadership and Commitment Revitalization America's Neighborhoods. Her accomplishments include 50 years of community involvement as a member of the First Baptist Church of College Hill, the Tampa Urban League, as well as the Hillsborough Educators Association. 

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Best’s diligent and unrelenting service has made an indelible mark to Hillsborough County. She has set an example of how to be a devoted public servant, mother, and friend. Please join me in celebrating her outstanding efforts to make this world a better place.