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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The year 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the |
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founding of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington; and |
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WHEREAS, Since it was established in 1959, this noteworthy |
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organization has worked to inspire and enable all young people to |
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realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and |
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compassionate citizens; by engaging youth in numerous activities |
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with caring adults, peers, and family members, the Boys and Girls |
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Clubs of Arlington promotes such worthy goals as positive |
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self-identity, community and civic involvement, health and |
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well-being, and strong moral values; and |
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WHEREAS, The organization served 100 youth in its first year |
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of operation, and by 1980, the number had grown to 2,000; today, |
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more than 6,000 individuals, ages 6 to 18, participate in the Boys |
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and Girls Clubs of Arlington each year, and 86 percent of these |
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youth come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds; the |
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programs offered at the Boys and Girls Clubs are designed to meet |
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the diverse needs and interests of all the participants, and are |
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focused on the areas of character and leadership, health and life |
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skills, education and careers, the arts and sports, and fitness and |
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recreation; and |
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WHEREAS, With the average member spending 12 hours per week |
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at its facilities, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington has |
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expanded its range of activities to serve the growing population; |
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in addition to a homework assistance program, the organization |
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features a Kids Cafe that serves nutritious meals, as well as the |
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Major League Baseball initiative, Reviving Baseball in Inner |
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Cities, and it provides transportation to its clubs from local |
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Title I schools; the group has also partnered with the Arlington |
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Police Department to establish camps for at-risk teenagers, and it |
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works with Tarrant County Juvenile Service and Arlington P.D. to |
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target first-time youth offenders and offer them alternative |
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activities at the clubs; and |
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WHEREAS, Committed to youth development, the Boys and Girls |
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Clubs of Arlington is building a solid foundation for the future |
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achievement of many young Texans, and its efforts have benefited |
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the local community as a whole; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Boys and |
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Girls Clubs of Arlington and extend to all those affiliated with the |
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organization sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington as an expression |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |