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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Deborah Bell of Longview, the founder of Refuge |
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International, truly merits special recognition for the many |
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contributions she has made to the health and well-being of |
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countless individuals through her humanitarian efforts; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2003, moved by what she saw during a volunteer |
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trip to Guatemala, Ms. Bell started Refuge International, a |
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nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives in areas where |
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such essentials as adequate health care, nutrition, and clean water |
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are lacking or nonexistent; under her able guidance, the group |
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leads numerous mission trips each year and has established |
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permanent medical clinics in San Raymundo, Sarstun, and Chocola, |
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Guatemala; partially funded through the sale of items handmade in |
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remote villages, Refuge International also digs wells, advances |
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educational projects, distributes deworming medication, and works |
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with government agencies to send Guatemalan children to the |
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Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas for life-changing surgeries; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Bell's can-do attitude and boundless compassion |
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also benefit residents of the Longview area, where she has served |
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the local community for many years as a nurse practitioner; |
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furthermore, in 2009, she forged a partnership between Refuge |
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International and physicians, nurses, and students from Longview |
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Emergency Medicine Associates and The University of Texas at Tyler |
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to provide free medical care to the homeless population housed at |
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Hiway 80 Rescue Mission; and |
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WHEREAS, In appreciation of her tireless efforts in behalf of |
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others, this highly esteemed individual has received a number of |
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accolades, including a 2005 Stand on a Better World Award, the 2007 |
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Texas Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award, and the 2012 Citizen of |
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the Year Award from the Longview Rotary Club; and |
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WHEREAS, Deborah Bell's public-spiritedness and volunteerism |
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are an inspiration to many people, and her commitment to enhancing |
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the quality of life for people both locally and abroad has earned |
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her the enduring respect and admiration of all who are privileged to |
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know her; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Deborah Bell for her outstanding service |
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to those in need through her work with Refuge International and |
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extend to her 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 Deborah Bell as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |