R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives takes great pride 1-2 in recognizing the numerous contributions made by Neighborhood 1-3 Centers Inc. Ripley House to the city and residents of Houston, for 1-4 the many outstanding outreach efforts accomplished by this worthy 1-5 organization and its dedicated members indeed merit special 1-6 legislative recognition; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Founded in 1941, Ripley House has become a powerful 1-8 force for positive change in Houston, providing educational and 1-9 recreational services to more than 3,000 people each day from a 1-10 campus that covers approximately eight acres and includes four 1-11 community buildings; and 1-12 WHEREAS, For almost six decades Ripley House has functioned 1-13 as a gathering place and service center that helps fulfill the 1-14 civic and social needs of area residents; these valuable services 1-15 include alternative education programs, summer recreational 1-16 activities, family information and referral services, and 1-17 after-school evaluation, prevention, and mentoring activities, as 1-18 well as a variety of senior citizen programs and emergency 1-19 assistance for families in crisis; and 1-20 WHEREAS, The highlight of Ripley House's social activities is 1-21 the annual Pan American Salute, a fund-raising celebration of 1-22 Houston's widely varying cultures and traditions; this year's 1-23 event, held April 20, 1999, was the 12th annual salute and was 1-24 capped by the naming of Miss and Mr. Pan American; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Marjorie Jimenez was crowned Miss Pan American, for 2-2 this lovely and talented 25-year old Venezuelan sings and dances 2-3 and has won a number of awards as a model in New York; a digitizer, 2-4 Ms. Jimenez sings in the Hispanic Church Choir and is deeply 2-5 committed to social reform; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Enrique Van, manager of network operations for SBC 2-7 Communications, Inc., was named Mr. Pan American; a graduate of The 2-8 University of Texas at El Paso with a bachelor's degree in 2-9 engineering, he is a multitalented young man who sings, plays the 2-10 guitar, and specializes in Latin-style ballroom dancing and has 2-11 earned a number of leadership honors as well, including the 2-12 EPA-Americorp Educational Award and the Hispanic Excellence in the 2-13 Community Award; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Few community organizations can match the success of 2-15 Ripley House and its dedicated staff and volunteers, and as this 2-16 remarkable institution carries its tradition of civic concern and 2-17 action into the 21st century, it is indeed appropriate to recognize 2-18 Ripley House and its distinguished members; now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby commend the public-spirited efforts of the 2-21 volunteers and staff of Neighborhood Centers Inc. Ripley House, 2-22 congratulating them on the successful conclusion of their 12th 2-23 Annual Pan American Salute, and extend to all those involved with 2-24 this worthy organization warmest best wishes for even greater 2-25 happiness and success in the years to come; and, be it further 2-26 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-27 prepared for Ripley House as an expression of highest regard by the 3-1 Texas House of Representatives. Moreno of Harris _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 850 was adopted by the House on May 6, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House