H*5403 Concurrent Resolution, By J. Brown, Allen, Altman, Anthony, Bailey, 
Bales, Barfield, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Branham, Breeland, G. Brown, R. Brown, 
Cato, Ceips, Chellis, Clark, Clemmons, Clyburn, Coates, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, 
Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Emory, Freeman, 
Frye, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hagood, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, Harvin, 
Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, 
Jennings, Keegan, Kennedy, Kirsh, Koon, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, 
Lloyd, Loftis, Lourie, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McLeod, 
Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, 
Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, M.A. Pitts, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, 
Richardson, Rivers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Simrill, Sinclair, 
Skelton, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, 
W.D. Smith, Snow, Stewart, Stille, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Townsend, 
Tripp, Trotter, Umphlett, Vaughn, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, 
Whitmire, Wilkins, Witherspoon and Young
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH OF RICHLAND COUNTY
 FOR ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE FATHERS WITH PRIDE FOUNDATION AND TO WISH THEM
 CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

   06/01/04  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-59
   06/01/04  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-17

TO COMMEND BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH OF RICHLAND COUNTY FOR ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE FATHERS WITH PRIDE FOUNDATION AND TO WISH THEM CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

Whereas, the Fathers With Pride Foundation (FWP) was founded in 2000 to lead a community-wide effort to confront the cause of poverty due to the absence of a father and aims to reach low-income fathers between the ages of 18 and 30 who are disengaged from their children, estranged from the children's mother, unemployed and lacking job skills, and perhaps battling some type of substance abuse problem; and

Whereas, FWP's noble mission is to improve the well-being of children by educating and equipping fathers with the tools they need to be responsible and committed fathers; and

Whereas, FWP achieves this mission through educating fathers with a designed curriculum utilizing community involvement, teaching financial responsibility and parenting skills, and securing and maintaining employment; and

Whereas, one of twelve programs funded by the Sisters of Charity Foundation, FWP is committed to reducing poverty in South Carolina; and

Whereas, FWP promises to continue to promote effective utilization of co-parenting skills to enable fathers to communicate with their children while working to break the cycle of poverty; and

Whereas, strengthening support for non-custodial fathers, FWP enhances the involvement of these fathers with their children by fostering communication, personal development, and education through collaboration with many partners in the community; and

Whereas, FWP is achieving success by working hand-in-hand with faith-based communities, civic organizations, businesses, and corporations to sustain this worthwhile program; and

Whereas, past and present partners include: Cautions Consult, Interventions Unlimited, John P. Thomas Elementary School, Arden Elementary School, Richland County Sheriff's Department, Carolina Panorama Newspaper, South Carolina Center for Equal Justice, One Stop Family Service Center, Child Support Enforcement, Russell-McCutcheon Funeral Home, Richland/Lexington Teen Pregnancy, and Bethlehem Baptist Church; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly takes pleasure in pausing to recognize this outstanding program and the difference it makes in the lives of so many South Carolinians and to praise the members of Bethlehem Baptist Church and the many other community partners for their support of the program. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, commend Bethlehem Baptist Church of Richland County for its participation in the Fathers With Pride Foundation and wish them continued success in the future.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Bethlehem Baptist Church of Richland County.