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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to honor  the staff and administration of 
4BACKBONES for their work in raising awareness of spinal cord 
5injuries; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, BACKBONES was created when the friends and family 
7of Reveca Torres started a fundraising campaign in order to 
8help pay for medical expenses after Ms. Torres suffered a 
9spinal cord injury; seeing the efforts of these wonderful 
10people, Ms. Torres realized the importance of a support system 
11to help reach one's goals after an injury, the impact that 
12others with similar injuries had on her, and the need for an 
13organization that could provide motivation and confidence to 
14those like her; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, With support and guidance from friends, family, 
16and the community at large, Reveca Torres and co-founders 
17Veronica Gott, Patricia Mikicic, and Annie Gonzalez put a 
18long-time goal into motion and transformed BACKBONES into what 
19it is today: a place to connect with others with the purpose of 
20learning, teaching, and sharing; the organization provides 
21free support for people with spinal cord injuries and their 
22families by telephone, in-person, and on the internet; the 
23organization also encourages growth by the sharing of 
 
 
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1experiences and ideas and creates an inviting atmosphere where 
2people can ask questions, learn from each other informally, and 
3make lasting friendships; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, The members of the BACKBONES Board of Directors 
5are Christopher Hyldahl, Jacob Torres, Mona Pinon, Brittany 
6Raniere, and Eric Larson; the organization's Ambassadors are 
7Rachelle Chapman, Matthew Tilford, and Priscilla Hedlin; and

  
 
8    WHEREAS, It is especially important to recognize the great 
9work and efforts of the members of BACKBONES during the month 
10of September, which is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness 
11Month; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
14we honor the staff and administration of BACKBONES for their 
15work in raising awareness of spinal cord injuries and wish them 
16continued success in their future endeavors; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the board of directors of BACKBONES as a symbol of 
19our esteem and respect.