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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Current and former residents, staff, and supporters |
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of the Mary Lee Foundation in Austin are celebrating its 50th |
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anniversary on March 1, 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, The Mary Lee Foundation serves children and adults |
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with special needs, helping them develop the skills necessary to |
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socially integrate with and contribute to their communities; |
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Charlene Crump, an ordained Methodist minister with a master's |
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degree in social work, formed the foundation in a modest |
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two-bedroom home in South Austin in 1963; four young women from the |
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Texas State School moved in and, with Ms. Crump's assistance, |
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learned how to take care of themselves, study a trade, find |
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employment, and live fulfilling lives; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Crump was an early innovator of community-based |
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independent living programs that operate as real homes for adults |
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with disabilities; in 1969, Don Lilljedahl joined Ms. Crump as |
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director of the foundation, and these two caring professionals have |
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been honored by numerous organizations for their work; in 2002, Mr. |
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Lilljedahl was awarded the Martha Arbuckle Meritorious Service |
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Award from the Austin Mayor's Committee for People with |
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Disabilities and in 2001, Ms. Crump received the Texas Governor's |
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Award for Outstanding Service to People with Disabilities; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1974, the foundation has run a licensed |
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intermediate care facility within an apartment setting for adults |
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with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Lamar |
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Square neighborhood; in 1993, the foundation added a licensed brain |
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injury rehabilitation center and an extended care program; in |
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addition, the foundation offers daily therapeutic activities for |
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adults with developmental and mental health disabilities at their |
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Daybreak Activity Center, individualized services and support for |
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Central Texans who live with their own families or in other |
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community settings, and housing for children with disabilities at |
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the Kathryn Stanley Sinclair Children's Center in Woodville; and |
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WHEREAS, For 50 years, the Mary Lee Foundation has provided |
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essential services to support Texans who need assistance, and the |
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organization's commitment to the physical, emotional, and social |
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well-being of their clients is indeed deserving of recognition; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Mary Lee Foundation on the 50th |
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anniversary of its founding and extend to all those affiliated with |
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the organization sincere best wishes for continued success with |
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their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Mary Lee Foundation as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |