By Smithee H.R. No. 502 76R9427 JHS-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On March 23, 1999, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and 1-2 Affiliates will celebrate Champions for Children Day at the State 1-3 Capitol in recognition of the 60th anniversary of Cal Farley's Boys 1-4 Ranch and the 50th anniversary of Girlstown, U.S.A.; and 1-5 WHEREAS, More than 5,000 boys and girls from every state in 1-6 the nation, representing a wide variety of races and ethnic 1-7 backgrounds, found hope and opportunity as a result of the vision 1-8 of Cal Farley, founder of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, and Amelia 1-9 Anthony, founder of Girlstown, U.S.A.; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The original charter for Boys Ranch was filed by the 1-11 Texas secretary of state on March 14, 1939, and soon thereafter Cal 1-12 Farley fulfilled his dream of providing boys a second chance for 1-13 success when he took the first nine boys to live in the courthouse 1-14 at Tascosa; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Amelia Anthony established a home for girls on March 1-16 13, 1949, beginning with nine girls at a temporary location in 1-17 Buffalo Gap, and the home was moved to its current location in July 1-18 1949; Girlstown, U.S.A., became an affiliate of Cal Farley's Boys 1-19 Ranch in 1987; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates is a 1-21 Christ-centered, professional child-care organization that provides 1-22 programs and services designed to strengthen families and support 1-23 the total development of the children entrusted to its care; and 1-24 WHEREAS, This exemplary organization currently serves more 2-1 than 300 boys and girls on three campuses, including Cal Farley's 2-2 Boys Ranch, located 36 miles northwest of Amarillo, in Oldham 2-3 County; Girlstown, U.S.A., located eight miles south of Whiteface, 2-4 in Cochran County; and Cal Farley's Family Program, located four 2-5 miles east of Borger, in Hutchinson County; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates does not 2-7 charge fees to families or government agencies, but rather depends 2-8 on the caring gifts of thousands of faithful supporters, the true 2-9 Champions for Children, whose contributions ensure the 2-10 organization's continued existence; a volunteer board of directors 2-11 and dedicated employees maintain the highest standards of 2-12 excellence in fulfilling the organization's mission; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Spiritual programs are important to the children and 2-14 staff, and opportunities are provided for the development of 2-15 Christian values, principles, and ideals, and these ideals are 2-16 reinforced through teaching and training, discipleship programs, 2-17 and participation in Christian ministry activities, events, and 2-18 projects; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates helps many 2-20 students complete their high school education and provides 2-21 financial scholarships to qualified alumni as they pursue 2-22 postsecondary educational opportunities; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates proudly 2-24 recognizes that alumni are currently living productive lives in all 2-25 regions of the country and throughout the world, representing all 2-26 walks of life as fathers and mothers and grandfathers and 2-27 grandmothers, and serving honorably in such diverse fields as 3-1 teaching, law enforcement, business, the military, and government 3-2 service; and 3-3 WHEREAS, This remarkable organization is indeed deserving of 3-4 special legislative recognition on this momentous occasion; now, 3-5 therefore, be it 3-6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 3-7 Legislature hereby honor Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates and 3-8 its many Champions for Children as they commemorate this 3-9 significant day; and, be it further 3-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-11 prepared for Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Affiliates as an 3-12 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.