H.R. No. 942 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of Dallas has 1-2 achieved notable success in promoting greater awareness of this 1-3 deadly, incurable disease, which affects a significant portion of 1-4 the African-American community; and 1-5 WHEREAS, An inherited condition in which red blood cells 1-6 become deformed, sickle cell anemia causes tissue damage and blood 1-7 clots that can shorten the life span of an affected individual by 1-8 as much as 20 years; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Established in 1978 to provide critical screening 1-10 and education services to the local African-American community, the 1-11 Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of Dallas was a joint initiative of 1-12 the Urban League, the Community Chest, and the C. V. Roman Medical 1-13 Society, whose members recognized the need for increased efforts to 1-14 heighten awareness of this devastating public health issue; and 1-15 WHEREAS, To fulfill its important mission, the foundation 1-16 works diligently to increase the public's factual knowledge of 1-17 sickle cell anemia and to offer confidential screening and 1-18 counseling services to aid in the identification of those 1-19 individuals who carry the sickle cell trait; the group focuses its 1-20 efforts on adults of childbearing age who carry the trait and whose 1-21 children are genetically at high risk for developing the disease; 1-22 and 1-23 WHEREAS, This exceptional organization also provides a full 1-24 range of support services for persons with sickle cell anemia, 2-1 including a tutorial program for children too sick to attend school 2-2 and a job bank for adult sufferers to help them find work with 2-3 employers who are willing to accommodate their health care needs; 2-4 and 2-5 WHEREAS, Foundation volunteers also direct clients to the 2-6 broad network of social services available in the community that 2-7 can aid them in their efforts to obtain financial aid and other 2-8 valuable assistance for themselves and their families; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Now in its 17th year of service to area citizens, 2-10 the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of Dallas has taken great strides 2-11 in educating local citizens about this debilitating trait and has 2-12 vastly enhanced the lives of its sufferers and their families; at 2-13 this time, the foundation's dedicated staff and volunteers are 2-14 indeed deserving of our highest praise and recognition for their 2-15 extraordinary service in this regard; now, therefore, be it 2-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-17 Legislature hereby commend the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of 2-18 Dallas for its exemplary efforts to improve the health and 2-19 well-being of the citizens of Dallas; and, be it further 2-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-21 prepared for the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of Dallas as an 2-22 expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.