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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 852
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize the Mary McLeod Bethune Day Nursery, Incorporated, |
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which is celebrating 75 years of service in 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, The nursery was founded by a group of concerned |
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citizens in Corpus Christi in 1942 and has provided excellent day |
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care for children throughout its history; and |
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WHEREAS, The need for such a facility was recognized by |
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Mrs. Bernice Leonard and the Reverend B. E. Joshua, who met late in |
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1941 with other interested parents to discuss establishing a day care, |
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having learned that more than 200 children in the city were being |
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cared for by older brothers and sisters who were unable to attend |
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school because their parents were working away from the home; and |
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WHEREAS, A small frame house was purchased and cleaned by |
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volunteers, and the center was named for Mary McLeod Bethune, a |
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black educator who founded Bethune-Cookman College, helped form |
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the National Council of Negro Women, and served as a coordinator |
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for Negro Youth of America and as an advisor to three presidents; and |
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WHEREAS, Mary McLeod Bethune Day Nursery was incorporated |
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on February 9, 1942; with donations of money, food, and milk from |
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churches, clubs, and concerned citizens, volunteers began |
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helping to care for the children; and |
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WHEREAS, As enrollment increased, additional funds became |
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necessary, and in January of 1943, Bethune Day Nursery became one |
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of the first participating agencies of the Community Chest; the |
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Texas Department of Welfare granted additional funding in 1953 |
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for the 64 children ranging in age from two to six years; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, and through the generosity of |
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numerous individuals, foundations, corporations, civic |
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organizations, and volunteers, the nursery has grown and |
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expanded its facilities to meet the needs of the community; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Corpus Christi have provided the |
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working parents of their city with an outstanding nursery that |
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has allowed family members to pursue their education, hold jobs, |
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and improve their standard of living; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby commend the Mary McLeod Bethune Day Nursery, |
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Incorporated, on 75 years of outstanding service to the Corpus |
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Christi community; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the |
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nursery in honor of its 75th anniversary. |
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Hinojosa |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 23, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |