House Concurrent Resolution 56

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE HATTIESBURG JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE JAYCEES, FOR ITS EXEMPLARY COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.

WHEREAS, the Hattiesburg Junior Chamber of Commerce, known as the Jaycees, is a leadership training and civic organization that has made exemplary community service and charitable contributions; and

WHEREAS, the chapter rose to the occasion after the February 10, 2013, Hattiesburg tornado by offering their building to DREAM for their after school tutoring program when the DREAM building was destroyed; and

WHEREAS, the Hattiesburg Jaycees also reached out to the community and organized a school supply drive for DREAM since their supplies were all lost in the tornado; and

WHEREAS, they used these supplies as well as other donations collected to fill a backpack for each child in the tutoring program, and a $5,000 grant was obtained for the program's curriculum through the United States Junior Chamber's Foundation; and

WHEREAS, the chapter also sold t-shirts to raise money for disaster relief, with some of the money used to help feed a group of volunteers helping to rebuild; and

WHEREAS, the Hattiesburg Jaycees contribute to their community in numerous ways, including: the annual Hattiesburg Christmas Parade, joining with other organizations to plan a unity event for the city following a difficult election, raising over $700 for Relay for Life via the Miss Hattiesburg Relay for Life Pageant, holding the Distinguished Young Women of Forrest County program, filming and providing online video of the Hattiesburg mayoral and city council candidate debates, the annual Labor of Love Labor Day Blood Drive, and equipping one of its members, Miranda, with the knowledge, skills and resources to start her own Zumba class that was recently named Best Fitness Class in the Pine Belt; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize the vital role that civic organizations play in shaping the overall quality of life in communities throughout our state, and to commend the Hattiesburg Jaycees for their invaluable contributions to the City of Hattiesburg and its surrounding communities:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend the Hattiesburg Junior Chamber of Commerce for its exemplary community service and charitable contributions, and extend sincere wishes for continued success in all of its future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Hattiesburg Jaycees and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.