By Senators Hunt, Becker, Rolfes, Darneille, Conway, Angel, O'Ban, Zeiger, and Sheldon

WHEREAS, Project Linus is a national organization that provides new, handmade blankets to seriously ill and traumatized children; and

WHEREAS, These blankets bring a sense of security, warmth, and comfort to children in need, and are lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers"; and

WHEREAS, Project Linus was founded by Karen Louks, on Christmas Eve 1995, when she read about a three-year old with leukemia whose special "blankie" helped comfort her in the hospital during intensive chemotherapy; and

WHEREAS, The article inspired Karen to provide homemade security blankets to a children's cancer center in her community; and

WHEREAS, Project Linus has grown to nearly 400 chapters across 50 states; and

WHEREAS, Local chapters collect blankets and organize several blanket-making events throughout the year to be distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need; and

WHEREAS, National Make a Blanket Day was started in 1999 after the tragedy at Columbine High School when national chapters came to the rescue, holding "blanket bees" all over the country and sending those blankets to local chapters in Denver, Colorado; and

WHEREAS, National Make a Blanket Day is designated as the third Saturday in February and is attributed to the collection of 75,000 to 100,000 blankets; and

WHEREAS, Since its founding, Project Linus has collected over 6 million blankets nationwide; and

WHEREAS, The Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, & Mason counties chapter of Project Linus, one of eleven chapters in Washington State, has collected 3,507 blankets and distributed 3,081 blankets since it was established in April 2014; and

WHEREAS, The immense success of this organization is dependent on the generous volunteer spirit of thousands of blanketeers and staff;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the participants of Project Linus locally and nationwide and express appreciation for their service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Board of Directors and National President of Project Linus, and to the Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, & Mason counties Chapter Coordinator.