[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 48 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING THE MY POSSIBILITIES HIPSTORE: OPEN FOR BUSINESS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2012

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to recognize the 
great staff, board of directors, and Hugely Important People--or 
HIPsters--of My Possibilities in Plano, Texas as they celebrate the 
organization's newest venture, the HIPstore.
  My Possibilities is a non-profit organization that provides daytime, 
year-round vocational training and other programs for adults with 
special needs. The first organization of its kind in Collin County, My 
Possibilities opened its doors in June of 2008 when caring moms joined 
forces to create a safe, social atmosphere for young adults who had 
``aged out'' of secondary education. Today, ten full-time staff members 
serve 125 HIPsters each week.
  Inspired by the My Possibilities motto, staff and HIPsters alike work 
hard to ``Make every day count.'' The new HIPstore provides a great 
enterprise opportunity to do just that.
  The store is a 3,000 square-foot facility that features gift items 
like candles, jewelry, and artwork all handmade by HIPsters. The 
HIPsters not only learn creative skills, put them into practice, and 
watch their handiwork make a profit, but learn the ins and outs of 
operating a retail outlet. For instance, they help to stock the 
shelves, monitor inventory, interact with customers, and operate the 
cash register.
  To the folks whose hard work and forward thinking have made the 
HIPstore possible:
  Thank you for your efforts. It is my pleasure to join you in 
celebrating this exciting new chapter of My Possibilities' service to 
the North Texas community. I'm glad to help announce that the HIPstore 
is ``open for business!''

                          ____________________