83R8809 LB-D
By: Moody H.R. No. 826
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, In the past two years, nine-year-old Eleanor
Schoenbrun has raised more than $16,000 for the Animal Rescue
League of El Paso; and
WHEREAS, A fourth-grade student at Western Hills Elementary
School, Eleanor has been a dedicated advocate for homeless pets in
her area since she was two and began volunteering at the Animal
Rescue League, a no-kill shelter; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, Eleanor read in the El Paso Times that
19,000 pets are killed in the city every year, and she was moved to
take action; she organized a fund-raising campaign called "Pennies
Fur Pets" with the goal of collecting $2,500 by Make A Difference
Day, the last Saturday of October; she received permission to place
donation jars at several local businesses, and her aunt contributed
to the cause by opening an online donation account; moreover, she
recruited her classmates to help her make posters; on the final day
for fund-raising, she spent seven hours outside her local Starbucks
persuading people that every little bit helps, and at the close of
her deadline, she had collected just over $2,700; and
WHEREAS, Eleanor's story caught the attention of the Make A
Difference Day Award program, which honored her for her outstanding
efforts and presented her with $10,000 for her favorite charity;
she promptly gave the money to ARL and kicked off her next Pennies
Fur Pets campaign; for her ninth birthday party, she asked friends
to donate pet supplies in lieu of presents, and by Make A Difference
Day 2012, she had raised more than $3,300 for the shelter; and
WHEREAS, Eleanor has become a role model for her fellow
citizens; she recorded a public service announcement with the mayor
of El Paso encouraging other children to get involved in the
community because, as she likes to say, "Even the smallest person
can make a big difference"; in addition to volunteering at ARL, she
is active in Girl Scouts, participates in her school's canned food
drives, and competes on a local swim team; and
WHEREAS, With her enthusiasm, hard work, and determination,
Eleanor Schoenbrun has helped save and improve the lives of
hundreds of abandoned, abused, stray, and injured animals in her
community, and she is an inspiring example of how one person can
effect positive change in the world; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Eleanor Schoenbrun for her successful
Pennies Fur Pets campaigns and extend to her sincere best wishes for
the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Eleanor as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.