Louisiana 2020 2020 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HR12 Introduced / Bill

                    HLS 20RS-711	ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 12
BY REPRESENTATIVE EDMONSTON
COMMENDATIONS:  Recognizes Beau Porto Special Tuesday on its twenty-fifth
anniversary and commends its founder and director, Bobbie Blanchard
1	A RESOLUTION
2To commend Bobbie Blanchard and recognize her foundation, Beau Porto Special Tuesday,
3 on its twenty-fifth anniversary.
4 WHEREAS, for the past twenty-five years, Beau Porto Special Tuesday has provided
5services to persons with disabilities in Ascension Parish and in surrounding parishes; and
6 WHEREAS, the program offers educational, recreational, and social opportunities
7for physically, mentally, or emotionally disabled individuals and their families; and
8 WHEREAS, Bobbie Blanchard, the founder of Beau Porto Special Tuesday, was
9inspired to create this foundation after seeing her physically handicapped grandson, Beau
10Porto, struggle to enjoy activities with other children his age; and
11 WHEREAS, the program began with roughly fifty participants but has since grown
12to nearly three hundred as of last summer; since there are no summer special education
13programs in the Ascension Parish public school system, the summer programs are popular
14opportunities for participants to make friends and connect with others; the program also
15hosts an annual Christmas party; and
16 WHEREAS, Beau Porto Special Tuesday has participants from Ascension and
17Assumption parishes as well as those who travel from Gramercy, Lutcher, Baton Rouge, and
18even Texas; and
19 WHEREAS, as the program grew, it partnered with the Ascension Parish School
20Board to provide nutritional food choices for its participants; both the parish council and the
21school board have also assisted the program with locations where the program can be held,
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HR NO. 12
1and local businesses have joined in by providing supplies and donations; the Sorrento Fire
2Department and the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office have offered demonstrations to teach
3the program's participants about the importance of fire safety and building good relationships
4with law enforcement officers; and
5 WHEREAS, in 2001, Ms. Blanchard received the Angel Award from Blue Cross and
6Blue Shield for her incredible work to assist the disabled citizens of Louisiana, and she has
7been recognized numerous times throughout the past twenty-five years for her heroic work;
8and
9 WHEREAS, Ms. Blanchard is a proven leader in Louisiana and her selfless
10dedication to the disabled members of our community through the foundation of Beau Porto
11Special Tuesday is undoubtedly worthy of recognition.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
13Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Bobbie Blanchard for her dedication to the
14disabled citizens of Louisiana on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of her
15foundation, Beau Porto Special Tuesday; does hereby express sincere gratitude to Ms.
16Blanchard for her selfless sense of civic duty; and does hereby extend hopes and wishes for
17the continued success of Beau Porto Special Tuesday.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
19Bobbie Blanchard.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services.  It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument.  The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.  [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 12 Original 2020 Regular Session	Edmonston
Commends Bobbie Blanchard for her dedication to the disabled citizens of La. on the
occasion of the 75th anniversary of her foundation, Beau Porto Special Tuesday.
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