Bill Text: TX HR2231 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the 115th anniversary of Family Support Services of Amarillo.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-30 - Reported enrolled [HR2231 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR2231-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2231 | ||
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| WHEREAS, For 115 years, Family Support Services of Amarillo | ||
| has played a vital role in helping to ensure that individuals and | ||
| families across the Panhandle are healthy, stable, and free of | ||
| violence by providing comprehensive advocacy, education, and | ||
| intervention services; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The history of FSS dates back to 1908, when a group | ||
| of local businessmen established the Associated Charities to serve | ||
| the Amarillo community; over the years, the organization merged | ||
| with a number of existing groups combatting domestic violence and | ||
| providing family services; in 1993, it was reorganized under the | ||
| name Family Support Services of Amarillo; FFS provides a safe haven | ||
| for adults and children who have suffered trauma, domestic | ||
| violence, assault, and trafficking and provides counseling and | ||
| other behavioral health services; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Focused on healing, stability, and well-being, FFS | ||
| serves numerous people in the Panhandle region each year; the | ||
| organization empowers individuals and families through its many | ||
| robust programs, including advocacy services, behavioral health | ||
| and wellness, education and prevention, emergency housing, and | ||
| veterans resources; through its programs, FSS makes information and | ||
| training available on the prevention of dating violence, child | ||
| abuse, teen suicide, and substance abuse, while also extending | ||
| support to new parents; the organization's programs and services | ||
| also include a Veterans Resource Center, which helps veterans, | ||
| family members, and surviving spouses to find housing and | ||
| employment and to access available benefits; and | ||
| WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 pandemic, FSS continued to | ||
| deliver on its promise to assist vulnerable members of the | ||
| community, even as the organization confronted new challenges; in | ||
| January 2020, its building in downtown Amarillo was destroyed in a | ||
| fire, forcing staff to operate out of a temporary location before a | ||
| new office was secured later in the year; FSS recently moved into a | ||
| renovated, state-of-the-art office facility, which will allow the | ||
| organization more space to provide enhanced services to the | ||
| community; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Guided by integrity, expertise, and commitment to | ||
| service, the FSS executive team includes chief executive officer | ||
| Jim Womack, chief operating officer Terry Stroud, chief development | ||
| officer Joette Campbell, director of behavioral health and wellness | ||
| Kathy Tortoreo, director of education Brandi Reed, Veterans | ||
| Resource Center director Verlene Dickson, director of advocacy | ||
| services Michelle Shields, director of administrative services | ||
| Veronica Villanueva, and director of donor engagement Christy | ||
| Bertolino; serving on the organization's board are president Freida | ||
| Toler, president-elect Lisa Simpson, treasurer David Meraz, | ||
| secretary Jenni Winegarner, and members Brad Baldridge, William | ||
| Bailey, Brittainy Barber, Jason McCoy, Shauna Moore, Alex | ||
| Yarbrough, Allison Roberts, David Lovejoy, Debra McCartt, and | ||
| Russell Johnson; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Family Support Services of Amarillo has helped | ||
| countless individuals and families as they take the first steps | ||
| toward healing and change, and all those who are involved in this | ||
| remarkable organization are deserving of recognition for their | ||
| contributions; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commemorate the 115th anniversary of Family | ||
| Support Services of Amarillo and extend sincere best wishes for | ||
| continued success to its staff, directors, volunteers, and other | ||
| personnel; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the | ||
| Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Price | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2231 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 29, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
