Senate Resolution 5

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING REPRESENTATIVE STEVE HOLLAND UPON HIS RECEIPT OF THE 2018 "RED RASBERRY HUMANITARIAN AWARD," FOR HIS 36 YEARS OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, HIS CONTINUED COMMITMENT OF SERVICE TO HIS CONSTITUENTS AND HIS LITERARY WORK AS AN AUTHOR AND HUMANITARIAN.

WHEREAS, on April 17, 2018, Representative Steve Holland (District 16) will receive the prestigious "Red Rasberry Humanitarian Award" in honor of his support for the Regional Rehabilitation Center in Tupelo, Mississippi, and for his legacy of commitment to his community; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Regional Rehabilitation Center is to, at no cost to the individual, restore and enhance the quality of life of North Mississippians with disabling conditions through rehabilitation services characterized by quality care and personal attention; and

WHEREAS, the award is named for John A. "Red" Rasberry. Twice under the leadership of Mr. Rasberry, the Rehab Center was a part of Tupelo's successful All-American City designation. Through the Mississippi State Department of Health, clinics are held at the center throughout the year. A Cleft Palate Clinic is held four times a year, bringing in 25 to 30 children to be seen by a plastic surgeon, a pediatric dentist, an oral surgeon, and orthodontists supported by the staff Speech Pathologists and Audiologist of the Rehab Center. Also, four times a year an Orthopedic Clinic is held with six to eight donors traveling from LeBonheur to see 75 to 100 patients. Again, staff support of the Physical and Occupational Therapy Departments is made available to these physicians. The Regional Rehabilitation Center has also been the launching point for several agencies that are now freestanding: McDougal Center, Vocational Rehabilitation (now known as AbilityWorks), the Work Opportunity Resource Center, Vocational Rehabilitation Center for the Blind (now known as REACH), and Royal Maid Industries for the Blind (now known as LC Industries). The Rehab Center has been instrumental in pilot projects, either in identification of need and partnering or releasing them to appropriate agencies. Three such projects have been the Hard-of-Hearing Classroom (which served the Tippah, Benton, Union, Itawamba and Alcorn Counties), the Physically Handicapped classrooms and the Dyslexia Program. In 1999, the center, through grant funds from the Mississippi State Department of Health, was named an Early Intervention site in Northeast Mississippi providing services to the zero to three years of age population. And last, but not least, after almost fifty years, the Rehab Center has completed the much-needed $2,288,000.00 renovation. Currently, the center is providing approximately 20,000 services annually to 2,000 clients in 25 counties in Northeast Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, we pay tribute and cherish fondly the association with our friend from the House of Representatives who is a most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi with enormous civic energy:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize Representative Steve Holland upon his receipt of the 2018 "Red Rasberry Humanitarian Award", for his 36 years of legislative service to the State of Mississippi, his continued commitment of service to his constituents and his literary work as an Author and Humanitarian.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Steve Holland.