79R14788 KO-D

By:  Davis of Harris                                              H.R. No. 1466



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Faithful Fathering Initiative in Texas works to 
encourage, equip, and support men in becoming caring and involved 
fathers and to challenge fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and 
all father figures to grow in their roles as responsible parents; 
the organization also directs its efforts toward sensitizing 
families across Texas to the impact a father has on his children; 
and
	WHEREAS, To that end, this admirable organization is 
partnering with Flooring America to sponsor a contest for Houston 
students in first through 12th grades to compose an essay entitled, 
"What My Father Means to Me"; the 2005 Flooring America Dads 
Becoming Heroes Essay Contest is designed to improve writing 
skills, stimulate a child's thinking about his or her father and the 
role he plays in the child's life, and to raise awareness in our 
communities of the importance of fathers; and
	WHEREAS, The winners of this noteworthy contest were judged 
within each school grade level and evaluated according to how well 
they described the nature of their relationships with their 
fathers, their use of specific details and stories that 
demonstrated their fathers' character, the honesty, clarity, and 
simplicity with which they expressed their thoughts, and their 
overall writing skill; and
	WHEREAS, Children thrive when they have a supportive and 
fully engaged father, and as these remarkable essays show, the 
importance of loving, committed relationships between fathers and 
their sons and daughters cannot be overestimated; now, therefore, 
be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby congratulate the winners of the 2005 Flooring 
America Dads Becoming Heroes Essay Contest and commend the Faithful 
Fathering Initiative in Texas for its efforts in encouraging 
fathers in the Lone Star State to become their children's 
nurturers, advocates, and heroes; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for each winning contestant as an expression of high 
regard by the Texas House of Representatives.