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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For more than eight decades, The Lighthouse of |
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Houston has served as a source of critical support for the blind and |
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visually impaired; and |
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WHEREAS, The first efforts to provide services for Houston's |
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blind and visually impaired community can be traced to 1925, when |
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the Dandelions, the women's auxiliary of the Lions Club, organized |
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a sewing group for people with blindness and established sales |
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outlets for their creations; the City of Houston built upon their |
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work in the 1930s, taking over a program for the blind established |
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by the Works Progress Administration; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1934, legally blind teacher Nellie Mae Wimberly |
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moved to Houston to establish a home education program for the |
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city's blind population; after struggling to secure financial |
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support from the local government, she turned to her neighbor, |
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James G. Donovan, who raised the necessary funds by soliciting the |
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support of local Lions Clubs and other friends; believing that |
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blind residents would benefit from a more stable program, the two |
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went on to charter the Harris County Association for the Blind |
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alongside E. M. Biggers on November 14, 1939; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, The Lighthouse of Houston helps to enable and |
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empower people who are blind or low vision to realize their full |
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potential; to this end, the organization serves more than 14,000 of |
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these individuals annually through its vocational skills training, |
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assistive technology resources, health services, and events; |
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The Lighthouse also works to create jobs for people who are blind or |
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low vision through its Premium Business Service sales development |
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program, and 60 percent of its employees are blind or low vision; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Ensuring the well-being and prosperity of blind and |
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visually impaired Texans is a mission of great importance, and |
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The Lighthouse of Houston is making an invaluable contribution to |
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the Lone Star State through its efforts to uplift this community; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor The Lighthouse of Houston for its |
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achievements and extend to all those affiliated with the |
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organization 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 The Lighthouse of Houston as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |