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2010 SESSION

10103855D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 167
Offered January 18, 2010
Commending People, Inc., on the occasion of its 45th anniversary.
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Patrons-- Johnson, Armstrong, Carrico, Crockett-Stark, Griffith, Kilgore, Morefield, Nutter, Phillips and Shuler; Senators: Puckett, Reynolds and Wampler
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WHEREAS, People, Inc., a private, nonprofit corporation located in Abingdon, is commended for 45 years of innovative and compassionate service to the citizens and communities of Southwest Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the organization began when community members Garland Thayer, Fount Henderson, his wife Thelma, and others noticed the needs of their neighbors and the children of the small community of Hayters Gap and decided to form a club, the Hayters Gap Community Club, to assist their neighbors; and

WHEREAS, in 1964 the Hayters Gap Community Club was incorporated as the Progressive Community Club; later that same year, Fount Henderson traveled to Washington, D.C., to seek Economic Opportunity Act funds and the club received its first grant of $55,000 in December 1964; and

WHEREAS, with Garland Thayer as the first director, the Progressive Community Club was the first community action agency in Virginia and the first rural community action agency in the United States; and

WHEREAS, in 1974 the Progressive Community Club became People Incorporated of Washington County and Bristol, Virginia, and in 1980, expanded its services into Russell, Buchanan, and Dickenson Counties; and

WHEREAS, People, Inc., launched two affiliates in the past decade, People Incorporated Financial Services and People Incorporated Housing Group; in 2011 People, Inc., plans to launch its newest venture, Heartwood, to promote the revitalization of the arts and tourism in Southwest Virginia; and

WHEREAS, currently, People, Inc., serves the people in 22 counties and cities in Southwest Virginia and assists with early childhood development; health care; affordable, warm, safe, and dry housing; education, job training, and employment; and savings and small business development; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to the economic well-being of the communities of Southwest Virginia, People, Inc., also assists communities with community revitalization, infrastructure, and business development; and

WHEREAS, People, Inc., has grown from a small community organization to an organization with six regional offices that administers more than 40 programs; in 2008 People, Inc., served nearly 7,000 individuals and generated an economic impact of more than $31 million for communities throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the founders of People, Inc., recognized that individuals, no matter what their circumstances, have hopes and dreams for themselves and their communities; People, Inc., has given those individuals and communities a hand up so they can show what they can do; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend People, Inc., on the occasion of its 45th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Robert Goldsmith, President and CEO of People, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly’s congratulations and admiration and gratitude for its work on behalf of the citizens and communities of the Commonwealth.