78R13750 MDM-F By: Jones of Bexar H.R. No. 960R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is pleased to recognize Bill Milliken, founder and president of Communities in Schools, Incorporated, for his dedication and outstanding work in behalf of the youth of our state and nation; and WHEREAS, Mr. Milliken is a pioneer in his field, with 40 years of experience in giving young people the help they need to graduate from high school and pursue rewarding careers; and WHEREAS, Communities in Schools, Incorporated, an exemplary national dropout prevention program that Mr. Milliken founded in 1977, is dedicated to enlisting community and school resources to help underserved young people succeed in school and prepare for life; the program is guided by Mr. Milliken's belief that each student deserves a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult, a safe place to learn and grow, a healthy start, a chance to give back to the community, and a marketable skill to use on graduation; and WHEREAS, Texas youth face a multitude of challenges that influence whether or not they succeed in school; Communities in Schools of Texas addresses these concerns by providing students with the opportunity to focus on learning and by promoting their development into productive citizens of our state; and WHEREAS, For his commitment to our youth, Mr. Milliken has received the Champion for Children award from the American Association of School Administrators and the Edward A. Smith Award for Excellence for his extraordinary leadership; and WHEREAS, Dropout prevention is not just a school problem, it is a community challenge; through his endeavors to guarantee that all young Texans receive a sound education, Mr. Milliken helps to ensure that the Lone Star State has a competent workforce and a stable and competitive economy; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas Legislature hereby commend Bill Milliken for his excellent leadership and outstanding accomplishments as president of Communities in Schools, Incorporated, and extend to him best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Milliken as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.