For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
April 2, 2004
Remarks by First Lady Laura Bush at the Eighth Annual Greater Texas Community Partner Gala Luncheon
Renaissance Worthington Hotel
Fort Worth, Texas
12:19 P.M. CST
MRS. BUSH: Thank you all very, very much. And thank you very
much, Emy Lou and Mimi, for the really beautiful award. I'm so
thrilled to be here. I've really looked forward to today because I
know out in this room are so many friends of mine. I'm probably not
going to have a chance to visit with any of you, but it's just great to
see you and thank you all so much for being here.
I'm so proud of the work that all of you have done to start all
these community partners all the way around the state of Texas, over
100 in cities all over Texas.
I think that's so great, and I'm so happy to be here today with you
-- especially since I have such a busy schedule, according to a group
of kindergarten students who wrote to me. Their teacher asked them,
what do you think Mrs. Bush does all day?
Shelby wrote, she helps the President with his paperwork and then
helps him clean his office. (Laughter.) She takes care of him when
he's sick and puts cold cloths on his head. (Laughter.)
Megan said, she feeds the dogs and she plants the daffodils and she
does the President's speeches when he isn't feeling well. (Laughter.)
While Todd said, she wears pretty suits and she has to shovel the snow
and feed the birds. (Laughter.)
Now you understand why I'm so excited to be here. I get to take a
break from feeding the birds. (Laughter.)
Of course, what I really get to do is to be here with you to call
attention to such marvelous work that every one of you have done.
Whenever I come home, I'm always amazed at how big everything is here
-- the open skies, the endless fields of wildflowers, and the
compassionate hearts of volunteers.
Texans are good people who care about each other and care about our
future. We've always believed in neighbor helping neighbor and you
carry on this legacy of compassion by helping the most vulnerable
children.
Every child deserves to grow up with love and security. For many
of us, our childhood was a happy time of our life. I grew up in a
community where neighbors looked out for each other and for their
children. In the summertime, we'd play outside until the last rays of
daylight peeked over the horizon. And if my daddy didn't come looking
for me by dusk, there was always a neighbor telling us to hurry home.
But not all children grow up in a family or a community where they
feel safe and loved. Every day, thousands of children are mistreated
by their parents or their caregivers. About three children die daily
in America as a result of abuse or neglect. Nearly 200,000 cases of
child abuse and neglect are reported in Texas every year. Sadly,
thousands more probably go unreported.
These are heartbreaking statistics that caseworkers at child
protective services face every day. But thanks to many of the people
in this room, they don't have to face them alone. Today, caseworkers
have dedicated partners in communities across the state.
Fifteen years ago, a group of good friends in Dallas started
Community Partners to support caseworkers and children. Caseworkers
don't just work from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They may need to rescue a
child at midnight or help a family escape an abusive situation at 3:00
a.m.
They often have caseloads of 30 to 40 children who need food,
clothing and medicine. Many caseworkers spend their own money and
their valuable time looking for these items for their clients. So
Community Partners sprang into action. We opened Rainbow Rooms in CPS
offices so caseworkers could go any time of day to pick up clothing,
formula, and even a new duffle bag so children don't have to carry
their few belongings in a garbage bag.
Emy Lou is a founding member and one of my very good friends. Her
experience with one little boy inspires her to open more Rainbow Rooms
across the sate. Emy Lou remembers this little seven-year-old boy who
arrived at the Rainbow Room in Houston, scared and shy. She tried to
comfort him with a teddy bear and then some crayons and finally some
toy cars. But the only thing he wanted was a toothbrush. He had never
had one.
Because the first Rainbow Room in Dallas was such a success,
dedicated volunteers have taken Community Partners across the state and
now opened more than 115 Rainbow Rooms. This is an incredible
accomplishment. And your dedication is making a remarkable difference
for children -- and for caseworkers like Joan from Fort Bend County.
When Joan went to investigate an abuse case, she was appalled to
find the house littered with trash and beer bottles. The mother who
answered the door reeked of alcohol. The house was dark and cold
because the electricity had been shut off.
Two young children huddled together under a filthy blanket to stay
warm. A baby was crying in his crib. His diaper hadn't been changed
all day. Joan knew that she needed to take those children to safety.
She was able to go to the Rainbow Room in Rosenberg where she found
diapers, clothing and toys to comfort the children.
Before the Rainbow Room opened, Joan had to find a 24-hour store
that carried all the items she needed, and she'd pay for the food and
clothing herself. All of this from someone who is on call 24 hours a
day and makes less than $35,000 a year.
With Rainbow Rooms, Community Partners support more than 2,800
caseworkers and more than 50,000 children like Marcus. Twelve-year-old
Marcus ran to his neighbor's house in the middle of the night. His
stepfather was beating him with an extension cord. He was wearing
jeans that were well above his ankles. His t-shirt was too small and
it was ripped. The volunteers at the BEAR room gave Marcus a clean
shirt, a new pair of jeans and new sneakers.
After he got dressed, Marcus asked if he could take some shoes to
his sister, who didn't have any. A month later, Marcus came back with
his sisters. He wanted to make sure they thanked the volunteers for
their new clothes and shoes. The BEAR room in Harris County, which
stands for "be a resource" for CPS, helps over 1,000 children every
month.
Volunteers at the BEAR room also found a new dress for 12-year-old
Angela. When Angela's caseworker picked her up at school to take her
to her dad's wedding, she was shocked to find her wearing blue jeans,
scruffy tennis shoes and a bandana wrapped around her ponytail. So she
called the BEAR room in a panic.
They quickly found a pretty pink party dress and a pair of dress
shoes. Angela went into the dressing room a tomboy and came out a
princess. She grinned from ear to ear, excited to be wearing her first
pair of real high heels. The volunteers also found a necklace and
earrings, and they replaced Angela's bandana with a pink ribbon. Her
caseworker said that Angela was the belle of the ball, and the
volunteers felt like fairy godmothers.
Rainbow Rooms are so successful because of the extraordinary work
volunteers do, volunteers who are devoted to helping children. Nearly
5,000 Texans volunteer with Community Partners, volunteers like Ann
Schooler, who has spent a lifetime helping others. Ann started
volunteering when she was seven years old by raising money for the war
effort.
In the last 60 years, she has volunteered at Sunday school and for
the Girl Scouts and the Boys and Girls Clubs. She has served on nearly
40 nonprofit boards and consults pro bono for others. Ann joined
Greater Texas Community Partners to help educate more Texans about
child abuse.
She was shocked by the horrific story of an eight-year-old girl who
was chained and locked in a closet for years. Developmentally, she was
the size of a three-year-old. Ann had a granddaughter the same age.
She was compelled to get the word out and to encourage her fellow
Texans to help children.
This month, we're encouraging more Americans to join Ann and
volunteers across the country. During Child abuse Prevention Month, we
renew our commitment to call attention to child abuse and to protect
children from harm.
Child abuse and neglect are not simply family issues, but they are
concerns for every American. Children suffer the pain of abuse and so
do their families and neighbors and communities.
This is a Round UP lunch for a reason: We need to round up more
volunteers to ensure that every child has a chance to grow up healthy
and safe. There are so many ways you can help.
Volunteer to collect and donate clothing at your local Rainbow
Room. And remember, the Rainbow Rooms have new clothes. These
children have already had hand-me-downs. Or serve a dinner to children
in a crisis center. Invite a caseworker to your PTA group to talk
about child abuse. Establish a parenting support program in your
neighborhood or repair homes for disadvantaged families to make them
more livable for children.
Host a baby shower and invite your friends to bring diapers,
formula and clothing for infants and young children for your local
rainbow room. Put together a housewarming basket of linens and
dinnerware for foster children who are growing up and ready to live on
their own for the first time. You can even become a mentor or open
your house to a foster child.
We can all help in big ways or small. One person alone can't do
everything, but one person can do something.
Volunteering is central to the American character. And it's a
fundamental expression of our citizenship.
President Bush loves this story that was told to him by Pastor Tony
Evans of Dallas. Pastor Evans said, there was a man who had a crack in
the wall of his home so he hired a painter to cover that crack. But
two weeks later, the crack reappeared. And so the man sent for another
painter and he painted over that crack. But once again, it
reappeared. Finally, he found a wise painter who said, sir, you'll
never fix that crack until you fix the foundation.
Each one of you strengthen the foundation of America and President
Bush and I appreciate all you do to protect and comfort children.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of American children.
Thank you all very, very much. Thank you for what you do and
thanks for being here today. (Applause.)
END 12:30 P.M. CST
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