By Giddings H.R. No. 599 76R11613 GMW-D 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.