1-1                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-2           WHEREAS, The 77th Legislature of the State of Texas takes
 1-3     great pleasure in recognizing Elissa "Lisa" Benford, an election
 1-4     specialist and research analyst with the Texas Legislative Council,
 1-5     who has been chosen to receive the 2000 Humanitarian Award for
 1-6     Outstanding Volunteer Service, given by the Texas Department of
 1-7     Human Services (DHS); and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Ms. Benford is the founder and director of Lisa's
 1-9     H.O.P.E. Chest, a nonprofit charitable organization whose acronym
1-10     stands for Helping Others Progress Economically; created in 1996,
1-11     Lisa's H.O.P.E. Chest provides professional clothing and
1-12     accessories free of charge to disadvantaged men and women in Travis
1-13     and surrounding counties; and
1-14           WHEREAS, To be eligible for the program, individuals must
1-15     either be looking for work or already employed; agencies making
1-16     referrals to Lisa's H.O.P.E. Chest include area churches, the Red
1-17     Cross, the Austin Area Urban League, the Texas Workforce
1-18     Commission, and the Texas Department of Human Services; and
1-19           WHEREAS, By supplying appropriate attire to those with
1-20     limited resources, this outstanding program helps job seekers
1-21     overcome a very real barrier to securing employment and boosts the
1-22     confidence and morale of those who have already found positions;
1-23     since the project began, Lisa's H.O.P.E. Chest has served close to
1-24     2,000 Austin residents; and
1-25           WHEREAS, Funding for this endeavor is derived from grants and
 2-1     donations, while garments are contributed by colleagues, friends,
 2-2     and clothing stores; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, In the beginning Ms. Benford worked out of her car,
 2-4     delivering clothes to clients in public housing projects and at the
 2-5     Salvation Army; last November, however, with the help of a grant,
 2-6     she opened an attractive shop in a local office park; the shop is
 2-7     open three days a week, but this deeply committed woman can still
 2-8     be found making personal deliveries after work and on weekends to
 2-9     those who are disabled; and
2-10           WHEREAS, Previous accolades bestowed on Ms. Benford include a
2-11     Certificate of Volunteer Service from Governor George W. Bush and a
2-12     Volunteer Achievement Award from DHS; and
2-13           WHEREAS, Through her empathetic recognition of a basic and
2-14     widespread need and her resourcefulness and resolve in addressing
2-15     this common stumbling block, Lisa Benford has given crucial support
2-16     to numerous Texans, and her initiative and compassion indeed merit
2-17     legislative commendation; now, therefore, be it
2-18           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-19     hereby honor Elissa Benford for her generous community service and
2-20     extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success in this
2-21     worthy endeavor; and, be it further
2-22           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-23     prepared for Ms. Benford as an expression of high regard by the
2-24     Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 49 was adopted by the Senate
         on April 23, 2001.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 49 was adopted by the House
         on April 24, 2001.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor