III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 141 

Recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of the GOD’S CHILD Project 

and congratulating the GOD’S CHILD Project on its 20th anniversary. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 12, 2011 

Mr. CONRAD (for himself and Mr. HOEVEN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of the GOD’S 

CHILD Project and congratulating the GOD’S CHILD 

Project on its 20th anniversary. 

Whereas international educator, human rights leader, and native of the State of North Dakota Patrick Atkinson, 

deeply concerned about the plight of poor and exploited 

children around the globe, established the nonprofit 

GOD’S CHILD Project in 1991 with the mission of 

breaking the bitter chains of poverty through education 

and information; 

Whereas the GOD’S CHILD Project has a global presence, 

serving the most vulnerable women and children on 3 

continents, with operations in El Salvador, Guatemala, 

India, Malawi, and the United States; 


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•SRES 141 IS 

Whereas the international GOD’S CHILD Project, true to its 

roots, maintains its global headquarters in Bismarck, 

North Dakota, the hometown of Patrick Atkinson; 

Whereas more than 5,000 orphaned, abandoned, and impoverished children and nearly 8,700 widowed, abandoned, 

and single mothers and their dependents receive care 

from, and are educated by, the GOD’S CHILD Project; 

Whereas since the GOD’S CHILD Project was founded, more 

than 18,000 parentless children and thousands more 

women have been given hope by the GOD’S CHILD 

Project; 

Whereas the GOD’S CHILD Project, taking a comprehensive 

view of helping the destitute and exploited break free 

from poverty and oppression, operates schools, a family 

clinic, social work department, psychology clinic, domestic 

violence program, legal aid department, and a center for 

malnourished children; 

Whereas in response to the transnational problem of human 

trafficking, the GOD’S CHILD Project established the 

Institute for Trafficked, Exploited, and Missing Persons 

in 2001 to address the issues of human trafficking and 

exploitation, which are particularly severe in Central 

America; 

Whereas the GOD’S CHILD Project is often 1 of the first 

organizations to respond to devastating natural disasters, 

including Tropical Storm Agatha, which ravaged Central 

America in 2010, taking nearly 180 lives and destroying 

the homes of thousands; 

Whereas each year, approximately 2,500 volunteers and 45 

homebuilding groups from around the world join with the 


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•SRES 141 IS 

GOD’S CHILD Project staff to compassionately serve 

their brothers and sisters in need; and 

Whereas the GOD’S CHILD Project and Patrick Atkinson 

have received numerous accolades recognizing their service to the poor from United States and foreign organizations, including the Guatemalan Congressional Medal of 

Honor, Guatemala’s Goodwill Ambassador For Peace, 

and the 2010 Humanitarian Award from the Bismarck 

City Human Rights Commission: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the GOD’S CHILD Project 

3 on its 20th anniversary; 

4 (2) commends the GOD’S CHILD Project for 

5 its charitable service to the poor and its efforts to 

6 help thousands break the bonds of poverty and ex7 ploitation; and 

8 (3) recognizes those individuals who have served 

9 impoverished children and women throughout the 

10 world under the auspices of the GOD’S CHILD 

11 Project, including the volunteers, staff, and founder 

12 and executive director, Patrick Atkinson, of the 

13 GOD’S CHILD Project. 

Æ 


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