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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Ronald McDonald House of Amarillo is celebrating |
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the 40th anniversary of its founding in 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognizing the need for the parents of hospitalized |
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children to stay close during treatment, the first Ronald McDonald |
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House was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1974; Ronald |
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McDonald House Charities has since established more than 380 Ronald |
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McDonald House programs around the world and provides more than |
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2.2 million overnight stays each year, saving families some |
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$611 million in lodging and meals; it has further expanded its |
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services through its Family Rooms on site at hospitals as well as |
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its Care Mobile programs, which provide essential medical and |
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dental care to underserved communities; and |
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WHEREAS, An independent, nonprofit charity, the Ronald |
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McDonald House of Amarillo opened its doors in 1983; initially |
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seeking to support families from the Texas Panhandle and |
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surrounding area, the facility has also served families from nearby |
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states, including New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas, and those from |
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as far away as Canada and Australia; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2021, the original building was replaced with a |
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new, state-of-the-art facility, which encompasses 12 guest suites |
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with private bathrooms as well as a communal kitchen, a laundry |
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room, and four play areas; families are welcome to stay for the |
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length of their child's treatment, at no cost to them, and they can |
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rest and recharge at the Ronald McDonald Family Room on the |
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pediatric floor of Northwest Texas Healthcare System; they also |
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receive help transitioning back to normal life when they return |
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home; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to supporting the families residing at |
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the house, the staff and volunteers of Ronald McDonald House |
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Charities take toys to children at Northwest Texas Healthcare |
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System and BSA Hospital; and |
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WHEREAS, True to its mission, the Ronald McDonald House of |
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Amarillo has made a lasting and positive difference in the lives of |
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countless children and their families, and it is indeed a pleasure |
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to honor the organization on this special milestone in its history; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commemorate the 40th |
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anniversary of the Ronald McDonald House of Amarillo and extend to |
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all those associated with the organization sincere best wishes for |
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continued success with their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Ronald McDonald House of Amarillo as an expression |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |