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