1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 593

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in

 1-4     recognizing Austin Smiles for its outstanding work in the field

 1-5     of plastic surgery on behalf of the children of Austin and of

 1-6     Latin America; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, Austin Smiles is a nonprofit organization that

 1-8     provides reconstructive plastic surgery, primarily cleft lip and

 1-9     palate repairs, to the needy children of Austin and to those

1-10     children in the 10-county surrounding area; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Austin Smiles also travels to Latin America on

1-12     three medical missions a year to repair the smiles of children; the

1-13     missions last one week, and approximately 40 volunteers participate,

1-14     including ear, nose, and throat specialists, anesthesiologists,

1-15     nurses, speech pathologists, family practice physicians, hand

1-16     surgeons, and oral surgeons; and

1-17           WHEREAS, The corrective surgery allows restoration of

1-18     close-to-normal speech, hearing, and eating, as well as the

1-19     enhancement of the breathing ability of a child; the family's

1-20     inability to pay does not affect the voluntary surgery or patient

1-21     care; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Austin Smiles performs 50 to 75 surgeries annually

1-23     at Children's Hospital of Austin and to date has completed over

 2-1     2,500 corrective surgeries for children; no participating personnel

 2-2     are paid for their services; however, each volunteer is required to

 2-3     raise a sponsorship fee to cover a portion of their expenses for

 2-4     missions to Latin America; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, Austin Smiles was created in 1987 by participating

 2-6     surgeons in the Austin Society of Plastic and Reconstructive

 2-7     Surgeons; these volunteers generously contribute their time,

 2-8     talent, and resources to removing the deformities of children,

 2-9     thereby raising the children's self-esteem and their chances of

2-10     becoming productive members of society; now, therefore, be it

2-11           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-12     75th Legislature, hereby commend all those who participate in the

2-13     humanitarian efforts of Austin Smiles and express appreciation to

2-14     them for their exceptional work and generosity; and, be it further

2-15           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for

2-16     Austin Smiles as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

2-17                                                              Barrientos

2-18                                                              Sibley    

2-19                                                              Ratliff   

2-20                                  ______________________________________

2-21                                          President of the Senate

2-22                                       I hereby certify that the above

2-23                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

2-24                                  on April 28, 1997.

2-25                                  ______________________________________

2-26                                          Secretary of the Senate

2-27                                  ______________________________________

2-28                                           Member, Texas Senate

2-29                                  ______________________________________

2-30                                           Member, Texas Senate

2-31                                  ______________________________________

2-32                                           Member, Texas Senate