Political Quotes

“Tonight, in Portland, Oregon, there's a special ceremony as Duncan Campbell is honored at the 84th Annual Portland First Citizen Award Banquet. I'm sorry that duties require me to be here in Washington, DC, instead of with hundreds of Duncan's friends and admirers back home in Portland. This is a very special award for a unique human being. Duncan has a very compelling personal story, working his way through a childhood marred by neglect and alcoholism. He put himself through college at Portland State University and eventually did the same at law school, earning his degree at the University of Oregon. He founded the Campbell Group, a very successful firm, pioneering work establishing timber investment funds. He soon became recognized as an innovator and an industry leader, but his real story is his lifelong commitment to children. Shaped by his own difficult early experiences, Duncan has focused on ways that he can use his success financially and intellectually to advance the cause of disadvantaged children. He's done this in numerous ways, but I think his greatest achievement is the establishment of an organization known as Friends of the Children. He put part of the proceeds of the sale of his company to establish the program in 1993. Starting small, it was built around the principle that troubled young people need a constant adult presence supporting, guiding, and not just mentoring but really becoming a part of their lives.…”