♪♪ >>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M HONORED TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION HERE AT THE GEORGIA STATE CAPITOL.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS IN OUR LIVES.

I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR GOVERNOR, FIRST LADY AND THE FIRST FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK MAYOR JAY CLARK BODIE AND THE CITY OF PALMETTO, GEORGIA FOR THEIR DONATION OF THIS YEAR'S TREE LOCATED IN ROTUNDA.

WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE ACT OF KINDNESS.

THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ATLANTA BOY CHOIR FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE'RE DELIGHTED YOU COULD PARTAKE IN THIS TRADITION.

AND FINALLY, TO MY STAFF AT THE GEORGIA BUILDING AUTHORITY, I WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU, AGAIN.

I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF THE WORK YOU'VE DONE HERE AT THE CAPITOL TO GET THIS READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

THE TRANSITION IT TAKES AND HOW QUICK IT IS DONE IS ALMOST MAGICAL.

AT THIS TIME I HAVE THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING A SPECIAL GUEST.

ONE THAT REALLY NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.

THIS MAN CARRIES ENERGY AND HAS AN ENERGY LEVEL LIKE NO OTHER.

AND AT THIS TIME OF YEAR HE PERSONIFIES THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS.

AS SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME AFTER LISTENING TO CLARK HOWARD ON WFB RADIO AT CHRISTMAS, "IF THAT DOESN'T LIGHT YOUR FIRE, THEN YOUR WOOD IS WET."

AND NOW ONE OF GEORGIA'S FINEST.

MR. CLARK HOWARD.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING.

AND IT IS SO EXCITING TO BE HERE FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW AT INVITATION OF OUR GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY.

TO WHOM GEORGIA'S CHILDREN ARE SO VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I'M GRATEFUL TO BOTH OF YOU FOR HOW MUCH THE CHILDREN OF GEORGIA MEAN TO EACH OF YOU.

I HAVE HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR 31 YEARS TO HAVE CLARK'S CHRISTMAS KIDS.

AND THE GOAL OF CLARK'S CHRISTMAS KIDS THROUGH THE DECADES HAS BEEN TO SEE TO IT THAT GEORGIA'S CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOVED AND CARED ABOUT.

TRY TO IMAGINE AT CHRISTMAS NOT BEING WITH YOUR FAMILY, NOT BEING WITH YOUR PARENTS WHO ARE IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW, DRUGS, WHATEVER.

THEY CANNOT BE WITH THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

AND A YOUNG CHILD SCARED, FRIGHTENED, FEELING ALONE.

AND THANK GOODNESS FOR THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO OPEN UP THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR HOMES IN FOSTER CARE ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

AND THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR PEOPLE WHO BRING A CHILD INTO THEIR HOME AND GIVE THEM A SECURE PLACE TO LIVE.

BUT I WANT THESE CHILDREN TO KNOW SOMETHING ELSE.

THEY ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ANY OTHER CHILD CHRISTMAS MORNING.

AND SO THESE KIDS, THANKS TO GENEROUS DONORS INCLUDING STATE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE DONE A HUGE COLLECTION FOR CLARK'S CHRISTMAS KIDS DO WHAT THEY CAN TO SEE THAT EVERY CHILD IN FOSTER CARE WHEN HE OR SHE WAKES UP CHRISTMAS MORNING THAT THEY HAVE NOT ONE, NOT TWO BUT THREE GIFTS THAT THEY ASK FOR FOR CHRISTMAS.

THESE ARE KIDS WHO WE'VE LET THEM DOWN AS ADULTS.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE LET THESE KIDS KNOW THAT THEY MATTER, THAT THEY ARE LOVED AND AN ABSOLUTE STRANGER CARED ABOUT THEM ENOUGH TO OPEN UP THEIR WALLET AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE KIDS.

YOU SAID IT BEST, THIS IS THE ULTIMATE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS.

THE GIVING, NOT THE RECEIVING.

BUT FOR OUR KIDS, OUR VULNERABLE ONES.

I WANT THESE KIDS TO FEEL THAT LOVE.

I WANT THEM TO KNOW THEY ARE CARED ABOUT.

AND I WANT THEM TO GROW UP HAPPY, HEALTHY AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OVER 31 YEARS TO HAVE ADULTS IN MORE RECENT YEARS WHO WERE IN FOSTER CARE AND COME AND TELL THE STORY HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO THEM TO RECEIVE THOSE GIFTS CHRISTMAS MORNING.

AND SO I THANK YOU IF YOU HAVE EVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE TO CLARK'S CHRISTMAS KIDS, DONATE THIS YEAR OR TO ANY OTHER PROGRAM THAT SEES TO IT THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT AS LUCKY AS OUR OWN KIDS HAVE THAT ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THOSE GIFTS CHRISTMAS MORNING.

AND I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU.

BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY GOVERNORS HAVE BEEN GOVERNORS OF GEORGIA SINCE I STARTED CLARK'S CHRISTMAS KIDS WAY FOREVER AGO.

AND SOME GOVERNORS MORE INTO IT THAN OTHERS.

BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE HAVE NEVER HAD A TEAM LIKE THIS.

THE TWO OF YOU, WHO HAVE PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO THIS AND CARED SO MUCH AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BOTH OF YOU.

AND -- [ APPLAUSE ] SO 31 YEARS.

THIS YEAR'S DIFFERENT.

WE'RE HAVING TO COLLECT ONLINE INSTEAD OF INPERSON.

REALLY EASY TO DO.

CLARKSCHRISTMASKIDS.COM.

DONATE TO A KID IN FOSTER CARE.

AND THANKS VERY MUCH WHATEVER HOLIDAY YOU CELEBRATE AND HAVE A WONDERFUL, AND JOYOUS HAPPY NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> THAT WAS A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE BY THE ATLANTA BOY CHOIR.

THANK YOU ALL.

AND NOW, ALLOW ME TO WELCOME AND INTRODUCE A MAN THAT HAS LITERALLY CARRIED THE WEIGHT OF THE STATE ON HIS SHOULDERS.

WITH STRONG SUPPORT OF A GREAT FIRST LADY AND A FIRST FAMILY, OUR 83rd GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA.

GOVERNOR RYAN P. KEMP TO BRING REMARKS.

GOVERNOR KEMP.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU, MARTY SO MUCH FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION.

AND IT'S ALL RIGHT NEXT YEAR I'D LIKE TO TAKE CLARK'S SPOT IN THE ORDER AND SPEAK BEFORE THE CHOIR, NOT AFTER.

THAT IS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.

WELL DONE, EVERYBODY.

LET ME JUST FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME YOU TO THE CAPITOL.

WHAT A GREAT DAY HERE AND SUCH AN EXCITING TIME.

AND ALSO WANT TO OPEN MY REMARKS AND JUST LET ALL GEORGIANS KNOW THAT IN THE LAST 24 HOURS WE'VE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER TRAGIC LOSS IN OUR STATE.

GEORGIA'S LOST ONE OF THEIR FINEST IN CLAYTON COUNTY POLICE OFFICER HENRY LAXON, KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

I WOULD ASK ALL OF YOU AND THOSE WATCHING ONLINE TO KEEP HIS COLLEAGUES AND FAMILY IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.

MARTY AND I ARE JUST HONORED TO BE HERE, AS WELL AS HAVING TWO OF OUR THREE DAUGHTERS TO CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING HERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

AND I WILL SAY THAT THIS YEAR HAS SPECIAL MEANING.

BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS OR SO.

ALSO JUST WANT TO EXTEND ON BEHALF OF THE FIRST FAMILY OUR GRATITUDE TO CLARK HOWARD AND THE FOLKS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES FOR WORKING WITH STATE AGENCIES THIS YEAR ON BEHALF OF GEORGIA'S CHILDREN.

IF YOU WALK AROUND THE CAPITOL AND SEE THE TOYS COLLECTED, IT IS IMPRESSIVE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF OUR STOIT EMPLOYEES FOR HOW THEY HAVE REALLY GIVEN BACK TO SOME GREAT FOLKS AND IN A GREAT TIME OF NEED THIS YEAR.

ALSO WANT TO THANK THE TLONT BOY CHOIR FOR HELPING US MAKE THIS CELEBRATION SO SPECIAL.

IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THE CAPITOL AND HEARD THE ATLANTA BOY CHOIR SING, IT IS SOMETHING ELSEIF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN IN SEASON.

ONE OF THE QUOTES I DISPLAY ON MY DESK IN THE WORKING OFFICE IS "TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO."

IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, IF THEY HAVE SHOWN US ANYTHING, IT IS THAT GEORGIANS ARE RESILIENT AND TOGETHER WE CAN WEATHER ANY STORM LIFE THROWS AT US, AND WE WILL EMERGE STRONGER BECAUSE OF IT.

BUT I KNOW FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, CHRISTMAS IS A REMINDER OF WHY WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH SO MANY HARD DAYS AND LONG NIGHTS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

AND ALL THE TRIALS HAVE COME OUR WAY.

PSALMS CHAPTER 18, VERSUS 2 SAYS THE LORD IS MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS AND MY DELIVERER.

MY GOD, MY ROCK IN WHOM I TAKE REFUGE.

MY SHIELD IN THE HORN OF MY SALVATION.

MY STRONGHOLD.

EACH DAY SEEMS TO BRING UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND NEW OBSTACLES.

CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR TURNS OUR FOCUS BACK TO OUR TRUE SALVATION.

NOT IN THIS WORLD BUT IN CHRIST.

THE BOOK OF LUKE TELLS THE STORY OF CHRIST'S BIRTH AND HOW THE LORD SENT HIS ONLY SON TO BE A LIGHT IN THE WORLD TO CARRY HOPE TO THE HOPELESS, TO BE A SAVIOR OF THE NATIONS AND TO BRING PEACE ON EARTH.

IN A DIVIDED TIME AND A DIVIDED WORLD, HIS WORD, HIS PROMISES AND THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS SHOW US THE WAY FORWARD.

AS YOU GATHER WITH YOUR FAMILIES, MARTY, THE GIRLS AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO KEEP IN MIND AND SAY A PRAYER FOR ALL WHO HAVE CHOSEN A PROFESSION THAT MAY CALL THEM AWAY FROM THEIR OWN FAMILIES DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN ON ACTIVE DUTY, OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE, FIRST RESPONDERS AND MANY HEALTHCARE HEROES WHO WILL BE ON CALL.

WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEB THE NEEDS OF YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE LOVED ONES TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH.

ON THAT I WANT TO SAY EXTRA NOTE OF THANKS TO ALL OF THE STATE AGENCIES AGAIN THAT PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR IN CLARK'S CHRISTMAS KIDS AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR STAFF AND CLARK HIMSELF.

I'M VERY HONORED TO SAY THAT WE'VE FULFILLED THE WISH LIST FOR THOUSANDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN ACROSS GEORGIA.

TO ENSURE THEY HAVE A SPECIAL, MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS.

OUR FAMILY WISHES ALL GEORGIAANCE A SAFE AND JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON, AND WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE WITH US TODAY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA.

NOW I BELIEVE WE SHOULD LIGHT THIS TREE AS WE CELEBRATE ANOTHER GREAT SONG FROM THE ATLANTA BOY CHOIR, WE'LL MAKE OUR WAY TO THE OFFICIAL TREE LIGHTING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL THANKS AGAIN TO THE ATLANTA BOY CHOIR.

GREAT JOB.

WE'RE READY TO COUNT DOWN.

WE'RE GOING TO START FROM FIVE.

Y'ALL JOIN US AND WE'LL GET THIS TREE LIT.

FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE.

YAY, THERE WE GO.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE].

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE.

♪♪