R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, Austin's Florence Ponziano has received the National

 1-2     Center for Neighborhood Enterprise's "Achievement Against the Odds"

 1-3     award, and this accomplishment is indeed deserving of special

 1-4     legislative recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, One of eight recipients of this year's honor,

 1-6     Ms. Ponziano is the first Austinite to receive this prestigious

 1-7     award; she has been recognized for her longtime commitment to her

 1-8     neighborhood's young people and for her dedication to helping them

 1-9     define and achieve their goals; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Ms. Ponziano's home, known throughout the Montopolis

1-11     neighborhood as "Comfort House," has provided local children with

1-12     an oasis of hope where they can find love and encouragement among

1-13     their peers; this commendable woman has opened her home to these

1-14     youngsters and has devoted herself to feeding them, listening to

1-15     them, and giving them a safe place to gather together; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Preaching a credo of personal responsibility to her

1-17     young charges, she encourages them to stay in school and stay off

1-18     drugs, and her devotion to these noble ideas has earned her the

1-19     respect and admiration of her community; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Florence Ponziano has inspired countless children to

1-21     greater heights of success and self-fulfillment through her

1-22     tireless efforts to make a difference in their lives, and the

1-23     members of this chamber take great pleasure in honoring her at this

1-24     time; now, therefore, be it

 2-1           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-2     Legislature hereby commend Florence Ponziano for her dedication to

 2-3     the children of Austin and congratulate her on receiving the

 2-4     "Achievement Against the Odds" award from the National Center for

 2-5     Neighborhood Enterprise; and, be it further

 2-6           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 2-7     prepared for Ms. Ponziano as an expression of highest regard by the

 2-8     Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                       Maxey

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 525 was adopted by the House on April

         18, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House