    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [April 8, 1991]
    [Pages 348-349]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Presenting a Point of Light Award to the Voice of Hope
    Ministries in Dallas, Texas
    April 8, 1991

        Let me just say Barbara and I are delighted to be here. In the first
    place, I want to salute all at the Dallas Naval Air Station, and say
    it's a pleasure to be back.
        But today what I wanted to do here in this very brief period of time
    was to salute those that are gathered here not only to commemorate this
    50th anniversary of the Dallas Naval Air Station but also to recognize
    the volunteers of the Voice of Hope Ministries as the 424th daily Point
    of Light. I think the name is well chosen, for you bring to the citizens
    of this corner of Dallas what they need most, and that is a sense of
    hope, the belief that every community can be reborn and that everyone
    can succeed.
        Having known a life of poverty herself, Kathy Dudley was determined
    to help others overcome the hardships that she had experienced. And she
    founded Voice of Hope Ministries in 1982. And when you began, you had
    only a dilapidated, abandoned school for a meeting place. With hard work
    and faith in God and in yourselves, you've transformed that building
    into a thriving community center full of love and support for all who
    seek it.
        Through your programs to enrich the lives of young people and
    seniors, your literacy and financial management programs

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    to open the door to economic opportunity, and then other related
    programs, you are reclaiming the community from despair and
    disintegration. You're making a community whole.
        And so, I am very grateful to speak for a grateful nation in
    saluting you for the strides that you've made. You are real-life
    American heroes, and all of us are very, very proud of you. And for
    those out there who say it can't be done, some communities can't be
    saved, I say to them: You all come to Dallas and see the Voice of Hope
    Ministries for yourself.
        And thank you, then, to all of you for being a Point of Light. And
    God bless each and every one of you.
        And now it is a privilege and a pleasure to present to the
    volunteers and staff of the Voice of Hope the 424th daily Point of Light
    recognition letter.

                        Note: The President spoke at 1:15 p.m. on the tarmac
                            in front of the Dallas Naval Air Station
                            Operations Building. Following his remarks, he
                            returned to Washington, DC. A tape was not
                            available for verification of the content of
                            these remarks.