81R20354 JNC-D
By: Legler H.R. No. 1285
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Houston Shifa Services Foundation is
celebrating the opening of the Shifa Abu Bakr Clinic on May 2, 2009;
and
WHEREAS, Established in 1997, the Shifa Foundation works to
meet the needs of the indigent and impoverished population in and
around Houston; the initiative was started by a group of 10
volunteers who provided free medical care, computer literacy
classes, and legal consultations to their clients on weekends in a
small room in Southwest Houston; and
WHEREAS, From humble beginnings, this charitable
organization has grown to include 160 volunteers; 55 specialist
doctors operate out of four clinics throughout the Bayou City,
providing free outpatient medical care to individuals in need; to
date, more than 17,000 people have benefited from Shifa Foundation
services, valued at nearly $3 million; and
WHEREAS, To better meet the needs of its patients, Shifa
Foundation has founded two centers for adult and child education
and has partnered with Masjid Teleem to operate a rehabilitation
center for ex-offenders; the organization also extends assistance
to those in need of family crisis intervention, senior citizen
support, and low income housing; in addition, the group works to
provide interim boarding and lodging to victims of family abuse;
and
WHEREAS, In 2007, the City of Houston awarded the
organization a grant for the construction of a new facility, and the
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic generously donated equipment and furnishings
for the clinic; and
WHEREAS, The Shifa Foundation and its dedicated volunteers
provide critical services to vulnerable members of our society, and
the Shifa Abu Bakr Clinic adds to the organization's ability to
fulfill its noble aims; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor the Houston Shifa Services Foundation on
the occasion of the opening of the Shifa Abu Bakr Clinic and extend
to all those associated with the foundation sincere best wishes for
continued success with their important work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the foundation as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.