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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Greater Dallas Section of the National Council |
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of Jewish Women has been at the forefront of community leadership |
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and social activism in Dallas for nearly a century; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1913, the section today is composed of |
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some 1,200 members who volunteer thousands of hours each year to |
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further the welfare of children, women, the elderly, and families |
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and to advance the cause of social justice; and |
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WHEREAS, The pressing needs of the day have regularly called |
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forth a determined response from this exceptional organization, |
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from providing home-front support during two World Wars to caring |
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for child refugees from Nazi Germany, working to foster interracial |
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understanding, and helping immigrants to achieve citizenship and |
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integrate into American society; and |
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WHEREAS, Many of the projects begun by the Dallas group have |
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become ongoing endeavors or else served as precursors of |
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present-day programs; these include the hot lunch and after-school |
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programs for schoolchildren, the provision of free milk and baby |
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formula, programs to screen for infant hearing problems and to |
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enhance infant brain development, an advocacy program for foster |
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children that evolved into Dallas CASA, and a program to support |
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children who may need to testify in court in felony child abuse |
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cases; in addition, the section introduced the Home Instruction for |
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Parents of Preschool Youngsters program, an initiative to boost |
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academic achievement that has since been adopted by a number of area |
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school districts, and pioneered an adult literacy program that now |
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ranks as one of the largest and most widely respected in the |
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country; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past five years, the Dallas section has |
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raised more than $1 million and distributed those funds to over 40 |
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projects in the Metroplex; at the same time, the organization |
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continues its efforts to educate area citizens about significant |
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issues and to develop the skills of community leaders; its own |
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members have served on numerous city boards and commissions and on |
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the city council, and three have held the office of Dallas mayor; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Inspired by Jewish values and committed to |
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progressive social action, the women of the Dallas section of the |
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NCJW have helped secure for countless individuals the hope of a |
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brighter, more promising future, and their far-reaching civic |
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engagement is leaving an indelible imprint on a major city of the |
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Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Greater Dallas Section of the National |
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Council of Jewish Women for their distinguished community service |
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and extend to them sincere appreciation for their exemplary public |
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spirit; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the section as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |