R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Dallas Bethlehem Center is hosting its annual
 1-2     "Star of Hope" banquet on April 9, 1999, and this auspicious
 1-3     occasion provides a fitting opportunity to honor this estimable
 1-4     organization; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Founded in 1946 as a project of the Woman's Society
 1-6     of Christian Service, the center is funded today by the Women's
 1-7     Division of the Board of Global Ministries and the North Texas
 1-8     Conference of the United Methodist Church and is dedicated to
 1-9     improving the quality of life for children in the South Dallas
1-10     community; throughout its history, the organization has worked to
1-11     strengthen the entire family structure by providing holistic
1-12     services designed to meet children's educational, physical,
1-13     emotional, social, moral, and spiritual needs; and
1-14           WHEREAS, The four main programs of the Dallas Bethlehem
1-15     Center address the needs of children from the ages of 18 months to
1-16     12 years; these offerings include the learning and early
1-17     child-development curriculum of the Day Care Center, a half-day
1-18     prekindergarten program in conjunction with Dallas public schools,
1-19     an after school tutoring and computer lab, and a summer enrichment
1-20     program; and
1-21           WHEREAS, The center's other valued programs and initiatives
1-22     include emergency food vouchers, Boy Scouts, a children's choir, an
1-23     annual health fair, weekly bread distribution, Thanksgiving dinner,
1-24     and Adopt-A-Family at Christmas; additional programs are planned to
 2-1     provide computer and job interview training, clothing assistance
 2-2     for working women, and evening and weekend tutoring for teenagers;
 2-3     and
 2-4           WHEREAS, For more than a half-century, the staff and
 2-5     volunteers of the Dallas Bethlehem Center have worked diligently to
 2-6     benefit the children of South Dallas, and their significant efforts
 2-7     are truly worthy of special recognition; now, therefore, be it
 2-8           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-9     Legislature hereby honor all those associated with the Dallas
2-10     Bethlehem Center for their outstanding contributions to the South
2-11     Dallas community and extend to them sincere best wishes for
2-12     continued success and happiness; and, be it further
2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-14     prepared for the Dallas Bethlehem Center as an expression of high
2-15     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
                                                                    Giddings
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 599 was adopted by the House on April
         8, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House