H.R. No. 1616
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Embrace organization has benefited children and
families in Collin County and beyond for 10 years, and it is indeed
fitting to recognize the contributions of its founders, Bruce and
Denise Kendrick; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, the Kendricks established Embrace as a
ministry at a church in North Texas to meet the needs of foster and
adopted children in the congregation; the ministry's programs began
to help other families as well, and in 2010, it became a nonprofit
organization providing direct services to children and families in
Collin County; its initial areas of focus included family support,
recruitment of foster and adoptive parents, and transition services
for youth aging out of foster care; and
WHEREAS, Embrace also assisted other churches in the
development of similar ministries, and it was asked to facilitate
the DFW Alliance of Adoption and Orphan Care Ministries, which
represents groups from more than 40 churches; in addition, Embrace
was invited to join the TexProtects Child Protection Roundtable and
the Supreme Court of Texas Children's Commission; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, the organization launched the Second Story
as a pilot program to engage more churches in the mission of finding
homes for every child in Collin County; as Embrace continued to grow
in Texas, the Kendricks worked to expand its outreach by traveling
to churches across the country and creating the Embrace Church
Network; the couple also launched the Family Beacon initiative,
which is designed to aid at-risk families before foster care
becomes necessary; they were named 2012 Child Advocates of the Year
by the North American Council on Adoptable Children, and they were
selected as Angels in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on
Adoption Institute; in 2016, Mr. Kendrick was appointed to the
Collin County Child Welfare Board; and
WHEREAS, Children are the Lone Star State's most precious
resource, and through their dedicated efforts as the founders of
Embrace, Bruce and Denise Kendrick have made a positive difference
in the lives of countless young Texans; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby honor Bruce and Denise Kendrick for their work
in behalf of children and families as founders of Embrace and extend
to them sincere best wishes for continued success in their
important work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Kendricks as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Sanford
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1616 was adopted by the House on May
4, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House