[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.