| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The year 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of Cal |
|
|
Farley's Boys Ranch and the 60th anniversary of Cal Farley's |
|
|
Girlstown, U.S.A., and staff and supporters of these worthy |
|
|
organizations are visiting the State Capitol on this day to |
|
|
commemorate these notable milestones; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A former semipro baseball player and a businessman, |
|
|
Cal Farley was inspired to help youth after noticing them |
|
|
congregated at the ballpark when they should have been in school; he |
|
|
discovered that most of the youth came from broken homes, and he and |
|
|
other men formed the Maverick Club and Kids, Inc., to provide them |
|
|
with a sports program, as well as food, clothing, and medical |
|
|
attention; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Concerned that many youth were still not getting the |
|
|
help they needed, Mr. Farley dreamed of creating a place where |
|
|
troubled boys could be given a second chance for a successful |
|
|
future; in 1938, a local rancher donated 120 acres northwest of |
|
|
Amarillo to the cause, and Mr. Farley began housing boys there the |
|
|
following year; the original charter for Boys Ranch was filed by the |
|
|
Texas secretary of state on March 14, 1939; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Farley promoted the ranch on his radio program, |
|
|
the "Cal Farley Show," and listeners throughout the state became |
|
|
supporters of Boys Ranch, which by 1947 had grown to include some |
|
|
100 boys; before the end of the decade, abused and neglected girls |
|
|
would also have a place to find success with the founding of |
|
|
Girlstown, U.S.A., in 1949 by Amelia Anthony; located on land near |
|
|
the community of Whiteface, Girlstown, U.S.A., became an affiliate |
|
|
of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in 1987; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Today, Cal Farley's is one of America's largest |
|
|
privately funded child and family service providers, offering |
|
|
residential, educational, and community-based services at no cost |
|
|
to the families of children in its care; guided by Christian values, |
|
|
its programs are designed to strengthen families and support the |
|
|
physical, emotional, and spiritual development of children; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Currently serving approximately 300 children on two |
|
|
campuses, both Boys Ranch and Girlstown, U.S.A., feature cottages |
|
|
where 10 to 12 children live with house parent couples providing |
|
|
supervision, mentoring, and parenting; residents receive academic, |
|
|
athletic, and extracurricular opportunities similar to those |
|
|
offered at other Texas public schools, and qualified alumni earn |
|
|
financial scholarships to college; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In addition to its campuses, Cal Farley's operates |
|
|
family resource centers in cities throughout Texas, including |
|
|
Amarillo, Arlington, Austin, and Houston, with another opening in |
|
|
San Antonio in 2009; these centers provide such direct services as |
|
|
case management, life-skills coaching, family and parenting |
|
|
programs, and referrals to other agencies; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A volunteer board of directors and dedicated |
|
|
employees, including president and CEO Dan Adams, maintain the |
|
|
highest standards of excellence in fulfilling the organization's |
|
|
mission; in addition, the caring gifts of thousands of faithful |
|
|
supporters, or "champions for children," ensure Cal Farley's |
|
|
continued existence; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, More than 8,000 boys and girls from every state in |
|
|
the nation and a variety of cultural backgrounds have found hope and |
|
|
opportunity at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Cal Farley's Girlstown, |
|
|
U.S.A., and it is indeed fitting to honor the proud legacy of Cal |
|
|
Farley's on this significant occasion; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize March 26, 2009, as Cal Farley's Day at |
|
|
the State Capitol and commemorate the 70th anniversary of Cal |
|
|
Farley's Boys Ranch and the 60th anniversary of Cal Farley's |
|
|
Girlstown, U.S.A.; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Cal Farley's as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |