ENROLLED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 12
BY REPRESENTATIVE EDMONSTON
A RESOLUTION
To commend Bobbie Blanchard and recognize her foundation, Beau Porto Special Tuesday,
on its twenty-fifth anniversary.
WHEREAS, for the past twenty-five years, Beau Porto Special Tuesday has provided
services to persons with disabilities in Ascension Parish and in surrounding parishes; and
WHEREAS, the program offers educational, recreational, and social opportunities
for physically, mentally, or emotionally disabled individuals and their families; and
WHEREAS, Bobbie Blanchard, the founder of Beau Porto Special Tuesday, was
inspired to create this foundation after seeing her physically handicapped grandson, Beau
Porto, struggle to enjoy activities with other children his age; and
WHEREAS, the program began with roughly fifty participants but has since grown
to nearly three hundred as of last summer; since there are no summer special education
programs in the Ascension Parish public school system, the summer programs are popular
opportunities for participants to make friends and connect with others; the program also
hosts an annual Christmas party; and
WHEREAS, Beau Porto Special Tuesday has participants from Ascension and
Assumption parishes as well as those who travel from Gramercy, Lutcher, Baton Rouge, and
even Texas; and
WHEREAS, as the program grew, it partnered with the Ascension Parish School
Board to provide nutritional food choices for its participants; both the parish council and the
school board have also assisted the program with locations where the program can be held,
and local businesses have joined in by providing supplies and donations; the Sorrento Fire
Department and the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office have offered demonstrations to teach
the program's participants about the importance of fire safety and building good relationships
with law enforcement officers; and
Page 1 of 2 HR NO. 12 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, in 2001, Ms. Blanchard received the Angel Award from Blue Cross and
Blue Shield for her incredible work to assist the disabled citizens of Louisiana, and she has
been recognized numerous times throughout the past twenty-five years for her heroic work;
and
WHEREAS, Ms. Blanchard is a proven leader in Louisiana and her selfless
dedication to the disabled members of our community through the foundation of Beau Porto
Special Tuesday is undoubtedly worthy of recognition.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Bobbie Blanchard for her dedication to the
disabled citizens of Louisiana on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of her
foundation, Beau Porto Special Tuesday; does hereby express sincere gratitude to Ms.
Blanchard for her selfless sense of civic duty; and does hereby extend hopes and wishes for
the continued success of Beau Porto Special Tuesday.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Bobbie Blanchard.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 2 of 2