WHEREAS, Family Service of Rhode Island is celebrating 110 years of service to the children and families of the City of Providence and State of Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Family Service of Rhode Island was founded in 1892 under the name of the "Providence Society for Organizing Charity" to assist Rhode Island's neediest children, adults and families; and

WHEREAS, In its early years, the organization began a number of different programs, including the "potato patch" project, which gave individuals plots of land and seeds to grow their own vegetables. This and other programs were designed to build on the strengths of children, adults and families in crisis; and

WHEREAS, Recently, the organization has greatly expanded and diversified its services to include mental health and substance abuse treatment, group homes for abused children, a school for children with learning and emotional issues called Mount Pleasant Academy, early intervention for children with developmental issues, case management for people living with HIV/AIDS, and much more; and

WHEREAS, On Saturday, April 20, 2002, Family Service of Rhode Island will commemorate 110 years of dedicated service to the citizens of the City of Providence and State of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims, Saturday, April 20, 2002 as "Family Service of Rhode Island Day." We honor this outstanding organization for its critical work helping the neediest children, adults and families in Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Family Service of Rhode Island.