By: Truan S.R. No. 510 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, Dr. Maria Luisa Garza, founder of the Gulf Coast 1-3 Council of La Raza in Corpus Christi, has dedicated her life to 1-4 helping disadvantaged youths; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The remarkable individual is the executive director 1-6 of the council which operates eight services that touch thousands 1-7 of the city's citizens; and 1-8 WHEREAS, A nonprofit organization founded in 1980, the 1-9 Gulf Coast Council is affiliated with the National Council of 1-10 La Raza, an organization working for civil rights and economic 1-11 opportunities for Hispanics; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Starting with a donation of $12,000, Dr. Garza has 1-13 developed programs designed to meet the social service needs of 1-14 disadvantaged young people; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Recognizing the need for a runaway shelter for the 1-16 city in 1980, Dr. Garza appeared before the city council time and 1-17 again until she accomplished her goal; since then she has been 1-18 responsible for starting the general equivalency diploma program, 1-19 a family counseling program, the teen pregnancy class, the 1-20 recreation center, drug abuse prevention classes, and AIDS 1-21 education; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Persistent, hardworking, and strong-willed, 1-23 Dr. Garza has taken advantage of opportunities and is adept at 2-1 persuading others to agree with her; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Funding for the programs is an on-going concern; 2-3 three times a week, Dr. Garza operates the council's fund-raiser; 2-4 additional funding comes from donations and grants from public and 2-5 private sources; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Totally dedicated to her work, Dr. Garza takes 2-7 calls from the runaway shelter at all hours of the night while 2-8 finishing work she brought home; and 2-9 WHEREAS, As a child growing up in Mexico, Dr. Garza learned 2-10 about helping others from her mother who started a school to teach 2-11 people to read each time the family moved; the young girl became 2-12 aware of the difference she could make in someone else's life; and 2-13 WHEREAS, After graduating from high school at 16, 2-14 Dr. Garza became a nurse, moved to Brownsville, and attended Texas 2-15 Southmost College on a scholarship to learn English; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Pursuing her studies at several south Texas 2-17 colleges, the astute student earned a bachelor of arts degree in 2-18 elementary education, a master's degree in Spanish and management, 2-19 and a doctorate in bilingual education; and 2-20 WHEREAS, She has an extensive background in teaching having 2-21 taught kindergarten to master's degree level students from 1968 to 2-22 1991; now, therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-24 73rd Legislature, hereby commend Dr. Maria Luisa Garza for her 2-25 meritorious service to improve the lives of others; and, be it 3-1 further 3-2 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-3 her as an expression of the deep respect and gratitude of the 3-4 Texas Senate. 3-5 _____________________________________ 3-6 President of the Senate 3-7 I hereby certify that the 3-8 above Resolution was adopted by 3-9 the Senate on March 30, 1993. 3-10 _____________________________________ 3-11 Secretary of the Senate 3-12 _____________________________________ 3-13 Member, Texas Senate