HR 9053 2003
1	House Resolution
2	A resolution designating March 26, 2003, "Big Brothers Big
3	Sisters Day in Florida."
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5	WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida
6	has served the children of Florida for 99 years and is the
7	recognized leader in screening, training, and monitoring child
8	mentoring activities, and
9	WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida is
10	comprised of 20 local agencies located throughout the state,
11	with its member agencies working to help children and families
12	deal with the difficult circumstances of life that challenge
13	them, and
14	WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida
15	provides caring volunteer mentors for at-risk children of
16	single-parent families and currently serves 14,493 children
17	annually within the state, with more than 4,000 children waiting
18	to receive a Big Brother or a Big Sister, and
19	WHEREAS, in 1992, Congress reauthorized the Juvenile
20	Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, adding Part G -
21	Mentoring, "in recognition of mentoring's potential as a tool
22	for addressing two critical concerns in regard to America's
23	children--poor school performance and delinquent activity," and
24	WHEREAS, an 18-month study of Big Brothers Big Sisters by
25	Public/Private Ventures of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, found
26	that children with a mentor in the program were more confident
27	in the performance of their school work and less likely to cut
28	school or a class, less likely to start using illegal drugs or
29	alcohol, less likely to strike someone, and got along better
30	with their families, NOW, THEREFORE,
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32	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
33	Florida:
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35	That Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida be
36	honored and congratulated for its efforts to mentor Florida's
37	children to success and that March 26, 2003, be designated "Big
38	Brothers Big Sisters Day in Florida."
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