PRINTER'S NO. 1623
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
349
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY F. KELLER, SCHLEGEL CULVER, BAKER, BENNINGHOFF,
BIZZARRO, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, DiGIROLAMO,
DONATUCCI, DUNBAR, DUSH, FARINA, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GROVE,
HARHART, A. HARRIS, PHILLIPS-HILL, KAUFFMAN, KILLION, KINSEY,
LONGIETTI, MENTZER, MILLARD, MURT, OBERLANDER, PASHINSKI,
PICKETT, RAPP, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, ROZZI, SCHWEYER, SONNEY,
THOMAS, VEREB, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD, WARD, MAJOR AND
SCHLOSSBERG, MAY 28, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 28, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing Pennsylvania Cystic Fibrosis, Inc., for its
extraordinary efforts over the past 30 years in raising
awareness of cystic fibrosis, providing support and financial
assistance to affected families and supporting progressive
research for a cure.
WHEREAS, Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal
genetic disease; and
WHEREAS, CF causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive
system; and
WHEREAS, Founded on October 2, 1985, Pennsylvania Cystic
Fibrosis, Inc., (PACFI), an independent, nonprofit volunteer
organization, provides services and supports for individuals and
families affected by CF throughout this Commonwealth and funds
some of the nation's most progressive research; and
WHEREAS, PACFI's financial assistance provides air
conditioners, portable nebulizers, generators, CF-related
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equipment, medications, transplant expenses not covered by
insurance, scholarships for individuals with CF who want to
continue their education and educational books about CF for
families; and
WHEREAS, PACFI supports clinics at Geisinger Medical Center,
Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center;
and
WHEREAS, PACFI offers advocacy and educational materials for
parents of students with CF who are having problems at school
and assists families by funding various emergency expenses; and
WHEREAS, PACFI has supported oral glutathione (GSH) research
in CF since 2004 through the Utah Valley Institute of Cystic
Fibrosis; and
WHEREAS, A 2015 study supported by PACFI shows that GSH
significantly improves measures of growth in children and
reduces gut inflammation; and
WHEREAS, PACFI received the President's Club Award in 2010
from the University of Minnesota, one of the nation's best CF
care centers, for supporting Dr. Toni Moran's CF-related
diabetes research; and
WHEREAS, PACFI has supported CF research at Hahnemann
University, University of Pennsylvania, University of
Pittsburgh, University of Vermont, University of California at
San Francisco, University of Virginia and Michigan State
University; and
WHEREAS, Boyds Bears named a special teddy bear in its fall
1997 collection "Burke P. Bear" after Burke Derr, a child who
collected teddy bears and who died from CF on June 17, 1997; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, Burke P. Bear was proclaimed the
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Pennsylvania Ambassador for love, peace, fun and a cure for
cystic fibrosis; and
WHEREAS, More than 134 retailers of Boyds Bears in
Pennsylvania, 30 other states and Canada donate $1 from every
Burke P. Bear sold to PACFI for its Million Dollar Bear
campaign; and
WHEREAS, Burke P. Bear has toured 23 countries and all 50
states since 1997 and, in collaboration with Cystic Fibrosis
Worldwide, has helped to create an international awareness of CF
in addition to raising funds; and
WHEREAS, PACFI has raised more than $565,000 for CF research
through its Million Dollar Bear campaign, Burke P. Bear's tour
and donations; and
WHEREAS, Burke P. Bear received Certificates of Merit from
the United States House of Representatives, the Massachusetts
State Senate, the City of Lubbock, Texas, and the City of
Auburn, Massachusetts, for his CF work and has been dubbed by a
British publication as the "Globe-trotting Ambassador of Love";
and
WHEREAS, PACFI celebrates its 30th anniversary in October
2015; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize PACFI
for its extraordinary efforts over the past 30 years in raising
awareness of cystic fibrosis, providing support and financial
assistance to affected families and supporting progressive
research for a cure.
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