| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 876 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Vedha Vaddaraju is being presented with a First |
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| 6 | 6 | | Lady's Youth Volunteer Rising Star Award at the Governor's |
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| 7 | 7 | | Volunteer Awards reception at the Texas Governor's Mansion on April |
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| 8 | 8 | | 19, 2023; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Administered by OneStar, the Texas state service |
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| 10 | 10 | | commission, this prestigious awards program honors exemplary |
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| 11 | 11 | | service by those who have made significant and measurable |
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| 12 | 12 | | contributions to Texas communities; the First Lady's Youth |
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| 13 | 13 | | Volunteer Rising Star category recognizes Texans 18 years of age |
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| 14 | 14 | | and younger who demonstrate leadership, commitment to service, and |
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| 15 | 15 | | the ability to inspire others of all ages to serve; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Vedha Vaddaraju, a student at Plano West Senior High |
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| 17 | 17 | | School, cofounded Letters of Gold with her best friend; early in the |
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| 18 | 18 | | COVID-19 pandemic, they launched the initiative to brighten the |
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| 19 | 19 | | days of health care workers by sending letters of encouragement; |
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| 20 | 20 | | the positive response led them to expand their efforts; forming |
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| 21 | 21 | | chapters in many local schools, and enlisting other volunteers from |
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| 22 | 22 | | around the world, they have coordinated and facilitated numerous |
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| 23 | 23 | | letter writing campaigns through the Letters of Gold website; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Since its inception, Letters of Gold has provided |
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| 25 | 25 | | thousands of caring messages to people in need of motivation or a |
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| 26 | 26 | | meaningful connection, including domestic violence survivors, |
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| 27 | 27 | | cancer patients, Afghan refugees, and residents of senior housing; |
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| 28 | 28 | | Ms. Vaddaraju has offered monthly training sessions for other |
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| 29 | 29 | | youngsters to foster civic engagement, and she has used her |
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| 30 | 30 | | platform for other worthy endeavors, such as a book drive for Dallas |
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| 31 | 31 | | Independent School District libraries; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Demonstrating leadership and compassion, Vedha |
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| 33 | 33 | | Vaddaraju has helped lift the spirits of countless people, and her |
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| 34 | 34 | | work in behalf of Letters of Gold has made her a role model for her |
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| 35 | 35 | | peers; now, therefore, be it |
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| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 37 | 37 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Vedha Vaddaraju on her receipt of a |
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| 38 | 38 | | 2023 First Lady's Youth Volunteer Rising Star Award and extend to |
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| 39 | 39 | | her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 41 | 41 | | prepared for Ms. Vaddaraju as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 42 | 42 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 43 | 43 | | Plesa |
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| 44 | 44 | | ______________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 46 | 46 | | I certify that H.R. No. 876 was adopted by the House on April |
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| 47 | 47 | | 14, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 48 | 48 | | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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