H*4694 Resolution, By Erickson, Agnew, Alexander, Allen, Allison, Anderson, 
Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Battle, Bedingfield, 
Bikas, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Brady, Branham, Brannon, Brantley, G.A. Brown, 
H.B. Brown, R.L. Brown, Butler Garrick, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, 
Cole, Corbin, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Edge, Forrester, 
Frye, Funderburk, Gambrell, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardwick, Harrell, 
Harrison, Hart, Hayes, Hearn, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, 
Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, King, Knight, Limehouse, 
Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McLeod, Merrill, D.C. Moss, 
V.S. Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Norman, 
Ott, Owens, Parker, Parks, Patrick, Pinson, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, 
Rutherford, Ryan, Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G.M. Smith, 
G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, 
Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Tribble, Vick, Viers, Weeks, Whipper, 
White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Young

Similar(S 1156)
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND AMIKIDS FOR GUIDING TROUBLED YOUTH
 INTO PROACTIVE ALTERNATIVES TO PAST BEHAVIOR AND ENABLING THEM TO BECOME
 SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT STATE.

   01/31/12  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 3)

TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND AMIKIDS FOR GUIDING TROUBLED YOUTH INTO PROACTIVE ALTERNATIVES TO PAST BEHAVIOR AND ENABLING THEM TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT STATE.

Whereas, few things afford keener pleasure to the South Carolina House of Representatives than recognizing the selfless labors of those who succor this great State's most precious resource, its children; and

Whereas, founded in 1969 by Robert Rosoff and Judge Frank Orlando in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and introduced to the Palmetto State in 1984, AMIkids has proved itself a valuable ally in the great task of nurturing South Carolina's at-risk youth; and

Whereas, AMIkids was established to provide troubled teens with proactive alternatives to institutional incarceration by offering them a second chance, a new direction, and caring, guiding hands within a community-based setting; and

Whereas, nationally, AMIkids has served and helped transform the lives of more than 105,000 youth, twenty thousand of them in the Palmetto State; and

Whereas, twenty-eight years ago, AMIkids arrived in South Carolina and began operations as the Beaufort Marine Institute. From this genesis, the organization's present seven marine/wilderness programs, all successful, have been spawned; and

Whereas, the organization maintains a proactive relationship with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and the South Carolina General Assembly and credits these two entities with the foresight that brought AMIkids to this State. Their joint vision has resulted in changing the lives of many of our troubled youth. In addition, while maintaining the safety and security of South Carolina's citizens with some of the lowest recidivism rates in the United States, AMIkids saves this State millions of dollars in institutional costs; and

Whereas, youth impacted by AMIkids are able to work their way back into a world of opportunity. AMIkids graduates have gone on to earn high school and college diplomas, start small businesses, find gainful employment, enlist in the military, and serve as loving and nurturing parents; and

Whereas, holding fast to its mission, AMIkids continues to assist youth in "separating a troubled past from a bright future"; and

Whereas, cognizant of the invaluable contributions and achievements of AMIkids over the past three decades, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to recognize this worthy organization for providing love, practical assistance, and hope for the future to thousands of the Palmetto State's at-risk young people. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commend AMIkids for guiding troubled youth into proactive alternatives to past behavior and enabling them to become successful citizens of this great State.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to AMIkids.