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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 15
BY REPRESENTATIVE STUART BISHOP
A RESOLUTION
To commend Elijah Evans of Youngsville for being recognized as a top youth volunteer of
2014 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.
WHEREAS, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a nationwide program
honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism; and
WHEREAS, sixteen-year-old Elijah Evans was nominated from Comeaux High
School in Lafayette for the work he has done to raise the awareness of his community about
child abuse and to improve the lives of foster children by promoting and hosting an annual
Christmas party for children in foster care; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Evans suffered abuse at the tender age of two, and spent years in
foster care until he was adopted by a nurse who had cared for him during his many hospital
stays; his adopted mother showed Elijah the love and care that has made him the
compassionate individual he is today; and
WHEREAS, his experiences implanted in him a desire to help others who were
suffering as he had suffered; to that end, Elijah freely shared his own story of abuse at
churches, schools, civic organizations, and with the media; he recruited volunteers, sold
raffle tickets, and self-designed T-shirts, and collected donations; and
WHEREAS, upon receiving a list of seventy-two foster children from the Louisiana
Department of Children and Family Services, Elijah Evans used the funds he collected to
host his first Christmas of Hope; since then, it has become a yearly event and Mr. Evans has
formed "No Use For Abuse", an organization to pursue more initiatives to help abused
children and foster children feel wanted; and
WHEREAS, as a Prudential Spirit of Community Award recipient for 2014, Elijah
Evans received a one thousand dollar award, an engraved silver medallion, and will travel ENROLLEDHR NO. 15
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to the nation's capitol May 3-6 to join award winners from other states for a series of national
recognition events; and
WHEREAS, students like Elijah Evans represent the best of America's youth and are
role models to their peers and in their communities, and it is appropriate to congratulate him
upon being selected to receive this recognition by the Prudential Spirit of Community
Awards program.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Elijah Evans of Youngsville upon being
recognized as a top youth volunteer by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program
for 2014; does hereby extend to him heartiest congratulations for his continuing endeavors
in shining the light of awareness on child abuse; and does hereby wish him much success as
he continues to bring a Christmas of Hope each year to foster children in his community of
Youngsville.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Elijah Evans.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
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