HR0866 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0866 LRB093 21734 HSS 50023 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives would like to congratulate the Gems of the Prairie Quilters of Peoria on hosting the National Quilting Association, Inc.'s Quilt Show; and

WHEREAS, The National Quilting Association, Inc. is holding its 35th Anniversary Quilt Show entitled "The Heart of Quilting" in Peoria from June 24, 2004 to June 26, 2004; the show will include a Preview Party, a surprise program at the Thursday Night Banquet, a Little Quilt Auction, and classes and lectures; and

WHEREAS, The National Quilting Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization run by quilters for quilters and was founded in 1970 by 7 women in the Washington, D.C., area; the organization was established to create, stimulate, maintain, and record an interest in all matters pertaining to the making, collecting, and preserving of quilts and to establish and promote educational and philanthropic endeavors through quilts; and

WHEREAS, The Gems of the Prairie Quilters, the hosts of this year's Quilt Show, are happy to use their skills for worthwhile causes; and

WHEREAS, The Gems of the Prairie Quilters sponsor community projects, including making quilts for children; each year, the group holds a NICU quilt contest, in which members vote on quilts to determine the winners of 3 prizes, and the quilts are then donated to the nursery at St. Francis, where they add a homey touch to a necessarily sterile environment; approximately 100 quilts were donated last year after they were displayed at the quilt show; and

WHEREAS, The Gems of the Prairie Quilters also sponsor Little Gems Quilts for the St. Jude Peoria Affiliate at St. Francis Hospital; the quilts made for this project are given to the patients at the St. Jude Peoria Affiliate; approximately 50 quilts are donated to these young cancer patients every year; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Gems of the Prairie Quilters of Peoria on hosting the National Quilting Association's Quilt Show from June 24, 2004 through June 26, 2004; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Gems of the Prairie Quilters as an expression of our best wishes for a successful event.