HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Very Special Arts-Texas program has greatly

 1-2     benefited countless disabled citizens throughout the Lone Star

 1-3     State, and this worthy endeavor is truly deserving of special

 1-4     praise and recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Created in 1974 to foster artistic expression and

 1-6     arts education, the Very Special Arts program brings the benefits

 1-7     of the arts to the disabled community, including the physically and

 1-8     developmentally disabled, at-risk youth, disabled veterans, and

 1-9     people suffering from AIDS and Alzheimer's disease; and

1-10           WHEREAS, By working closely with existing like-minded

1-11     organizations and institutions, the staff of Very Special Arts can

1-12     more efficiently reach their target population even as they gather

1-13     firsthand information about what projects will best serve community

1-14     needs; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Very Special Arts not only assists educators and

1-16     administrators with arts programming and grants but also organizes

1-17     competitions and festivals across the nation, and these events

1-18     provide the participating artists, musicians, performers, and

1-19     playwrights with an exciting opportunity to display their talents

1-20     while offering the general public vivid examples of the many

1-21     contributions of the disabled; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Although the importance of art, music, and

1-23     literature to our culture is incalculable, these disciplines assume

1-24     even greater significance in the lives of the disabled; in addition

 2-1     to their well-documented therapeutic benefits, the arts also offer

 2-2     what is often the only means of expression for these individuals

 2-3     and can dramatically alter the quality of their lives for the

 2-4     better; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, In promoting arts education among the disabled, Very

 2-6     Special Arts-Texas has benefited not only those involved in the

 2-7     program but by extension all Texans, and it is indeed fitting at

 2-8     this time to honor this outstanding initiative; now, therefore, be

 2-9     it

2-10           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-11     hereby recognize Very Special Arts-Texas and extend to all those

2-12     involved with the program sincere best wishes for continued success

2-13     in the years to come.

                                                            Lewis of Tarrant

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 254 was adopted by the House on May

         22, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 254 was adopted by the Senate on

         May 24, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor