SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2019 SESSION

19105217D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 936
Offered February 12, 2019
Commending Touching Heart.
----------
Patrons-- Plum and Keam; Senators: Howell and Boysko
----------

WHEREAS, Touching Heart, a Reston nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire children and fill their young hearts with love and compassion for one another through service projects, was honored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstones, Inc., with a prestigious 2019 Cornerstones of Our Community Best of Reston Award; and

WHEREAS, the Best of Reston awards honor individuals, organizations, and companies that have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to helping others and improving the lives of people throughout the Greater Reston area; and

WHEREAS, Touching Heart was started in 2010 by Helen Yi and her then 13-year-old daughter, Taylor, who wanted to give to needier children instead of receiving gifts for her birthday that year, asking her friends to give donations to charities instead; Taylor Yi is now a student at Boston University and serves on the organization’s board; and

WHEREAS, Taylor’s request reminded Yi of her grandmother, who took in and cared for over 100 orphan children during the turbulent Korean War; that inspiration to help neglected children without social support moved the mother-daughter duo to start Touching Heart; and

WHEREAS, the numerous Touching Heart volunteer activities include running fundraisers with local businesses, ordering and preparing food for children, seeking sponsors for fundraisers, organizing charity golf tournaments, and teaching children; children in the school program volunteer to pack lunches for local homeless shelters, such as the Embry Rucker Shelter, and make gifts of comfort for children in foster care; and

WHEREAS, since the founding of Touching Heart, over 500 local children have volunteered an estimated total of 2,200 volunteer hours, and approximately 125 adults have volunteered an estimated total of 875 hours; the organization's programs have donated $40,000 locally this year, and $92,000 since the beginning in 2010, to help community members in need; and

WHEREAS, Touching Heart has been recognized with awards for its philanthropic work including the Nonprofit of the Year Award from the Asian-American Business Chamber of Commerce and the Fairfax County Corporate Volunteer Program Award; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Touching Heart for its work inspiring children and filling their young hearts with love and compassion for one another through service projects, and on its well-deserved honor as a 2019 Best of Reston award recipient; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Touching Heart as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for its enduring commitment to make Reston a special place to live, work, and play.