| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The national service program AmeriCorps has proven |
|
|
to be a highly effective way to engage Americans in a lifetime of |
|
|
volunteerism while meeting a wide range of local and national |
|
|
needs; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Since its inception in 1994, nearly 775,000 citizens |
|
|
across the country and some 40,000 in Texas have taken the |
|
|
AmeriCorps pledge to "get things done"; of the 80,000 individuals |
|
|
serving in 2012, 3,265 were Texans; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Over the years, AmeriCorps Texas members have |
|
|
accumulated more than 51 million hours in service, tutoring and |
|
|
mentoring disadvantaged youth, fighting illiteracy, improving |
|
|
health services, building affordable housing, teaching computer |
|
|
skills, cleaning parks and streams, managing and operating |
|
|
after-school programs, helping communities recover from disasters, |
|
|
and supporting veterans and military families; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Working with over 2,200 nonprofit, community, |
|
|
educational, and faith-based groups across the Lone Star State, |
|
|
AmeriCorps Texas participants have earned more than $103 million in |
|
|
Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to help afford college or pay |
|
|
back student loans; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, AmeriCorps Week 2013, observed March 9-17, is an |
|
|
opportune time to salute current and former AmeriCorps Texas |
|
|
members for their tremendous contributions, to thank AmeriCorps |
|
|
Texas community partners, and to encourage Texans to consider |
|
|
serving in this outstanding program; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize March 9-17, 2013, as AmeriCorps Week |
|
|
and extend sincere appreciation to members of AmeriCorps Texas for |
|
|
their significant efforts in behalf of the state. |