HR0462 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0462 LRB103 34793 ECR 64644 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Barbara Olson Center of Hope on the occasion of its 75th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, In 1948, the School of Hope was started by the Rockford Parents Group to provide education for children who were considered unable to learn; and

WHEREAS, In 1972, the School of Hope was renamed the Barbara Olson Center of Hope to reflect its changing direction to serve anyone with a developmental disability, including adults, while offering a variety of programs to teach participants vocational skills, including offsite programs that provide opportunities to go into communities and learn practical skills; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, the Barbara Olson Center of Hope won the Excelsior Award, an honor bestowed upon an organization or institution whose work has a positive effect on life in the Rock River Valley; and

WHEREAS, The Barbara Olson Center of Hope has remained dedicated to the community through its Volunteer Center, which arranges volunteer opportunities at a number of programs and organizations, including Meals on Wheels and the Rock River Valley Food Pantry; and

WHEREAS, The Barbara Olson Center of Hope has expanded its commitment to vocational skills through its Hope Industries, offering a variety of subcontractor jobs from around the country through which individuals have the opportunity to learn work and life skills while earning a paycheck; and

WHEREAS, Through the dedication of its members and the growing popularity of its consumers, the Barbara Olson Center of Hope has branched off by creating GourMutts, a robust and flourishing program that sells flavored dog treats and from which all proceeds benefit the organization's participants and programs; and

WHEREAS, In 2023, the Barbara Olson Center of Hope will celebrate 75 years of dedicated service to individuals with developmental disabilities within the Rockford region; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Barbara Olson Center of Hope on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, and we recognize the organization for its continued commitment to the development and upliftment of individuals with developmental disabilities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Barbara Olson Center of Hope as an expression of our esteem and respect.