WHEREAS, The greater Seattle area is home to over 45 video game companies, making the video game industry in Washington one of the largest in the nation; and
     WHEREAS, Jerry Holkins, a comic writer, and Mike Krahulik, a cartoonist and artist, both originally from Spokane, Washington, collaborated to create an online comic about video games called Penny Arcade in the fall of 1998; and
     WHEREAS, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik recently celebrated the comic's 10th anniversary; and
     WHEREAS, In 2004, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik launched the first annual Penny Arcade Expo, a gaming festival in Bellevue, Washington; and
     WHEREAS, By 2008, the Penny Arcade Expo has grown to become the largest game convention in the United States, with over 58,500 video game enthusiasts attending the Penny Arcade Expo at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in August 2008; and
     WHEREAS, The Penny Arcade Expo attracts thousands of tourists from around the globe to visit the city of Seattle while attending the convention, and has served to further reinforce Seattle's status as a leading locale of the game industry; and
     WHEREAS, In 2003, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik created the Child's Play Charity, an organization which raises contributions of money and toys to donate to Children's Hospitals worldwide; and
     WHEREAS, Child's Play Charity has raised over 4.5 million dollars for sixty different Children's Hospitals since it was established, including Washington's own Seattle Children's and Sacred Heart Children's Hospitals;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate officially recognize the accomplishments of Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik in becoming widely accepted leaders in the computer and video game industries, encouraging industry growth through scholarships, and advancing Washington State as a hub of the gaming industry through the presence of Penny Arcade Expo; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik for their hard work and dedication to improving the lives of hospitalized children worldwide through their creation and continued work with Child's Play Charity; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik.