[ MUSIC ] >>> GOOD AFTERNOON .

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

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

I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR GOVERNOR, FIRST LADY, AND TODAY'S FIRST FAMILY FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BILL AND MISHA BRYANT OUT OF PALMETTO, GEORGIA.

WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND?

THEY WERE THE GENEROUS DONATORS OF OUR TREE THIS YEAR.

IT IS 30 FEET TALL AND HAS BEEN ON THE FAMILY FARM FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALSO TO THE ANNUAL .

TO GERALD .

>> Reporter: AND OUR ENTIRE DBA STAFF, I'D LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK MATT FOR ALL THE WORK FOR MAKING THE CAPITOL TRANSITION SO QUICK INTO THE CHRISTMAS THEME .

IT'S ALMOST MAGICAL.

I WANT TO KEY INTO THREE WORDS REAL QUICK.

HOPE IS REASON FOR SOMETHING TO COME THROUGH.

FAITH IS BELIEVING IT WILL COME TRUE.

BUT WORK IS MAKING IT COME TRUE.

NOW, I HAVE THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING A VERY SPECIAL GUEST, ONE THAT HAS HAD THE HOPE, THE FAITH, AND HAS PUT IN THE WORK TO MAKE IT HIS ANNUAL MISSION.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THIS TYPICAL DECEMBER DAY IN GEORGIA, 70 DEGREES.

BLUE SKIES EMERGING, AND I LOOK AT THESE CHILDREN BACK HERE, AND THEY ARE SO PRECIOUS .

I AM A FATHER OF THREE, GRANDFATHER OF TWO, AND OUR KIDS MEAN SO MUCH TO US.

BUT THERE ARE MANY, MANY FAMILIES IN GEORGIA THAT, FOR WHATEVER REASON , HAVE DISINTEGRATED, AND THE PARENTS CANNOT PROVIDE FOR THEIR CHILDREN , AND SO, IT CALLS UPON THE STATE , WITH THE STATE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND PROVIDE THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE CHILDREN, AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

IT IS A HARD JOB.

THE WONDERFUL, GENEROUS, KIND SOULS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO BECOME FOSTER PARENTS , AN INCREDIBLE THING.

AND WE SEE THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN, AND I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE MORE THAN 10,000 CHILDREN IN GEORGIA AND THE MORE THAN 1 MILLION AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE OR HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE, AND EACH OF THEM, A PRECIOUS CHILD WHO DID NOTHING TO END UP IN THE SITUATION THAT THEY ARE IN, AND WE HAVE TO LET THESE KIDS KNOW THEY ARE CARED ABOUT AND LOVED.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY FOR HAVING ME HERE NOW FOUR YEARS IN A ROW?

TO TALK ABOUT OUR 32nd YEAR OF CLARK'S CHRISTMAS KIDS BECAUSE I WANT EVERY CHILD CHRISTMAS MORNING TO KNOW THE JOY OF HAVING WISHED FOR SOMETHING AND HAVE IT COME TO THEM.

I WANT TO THANK TERESA JOHNSON , WHO WORKED NIGHT AND DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, HELPING US PUT CLARK'S CHRISTMAS KIDS TOGETHER, AND I WANT TO THANK THE INCREDIBLE GENEROSITY OF STATE EMPLOYEES.

I WAS JUST IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND OVERFLOWING WITH TOYS, DONATED BY STATE EMPLOYEES.

EACH TOY DESIGNATED TO A WISH LIST THAT A CHILD ASKS FOR IN THIS GREAT STATE OF OURS.

DON'T LET KIDS DOWN, AND KIDS LEARN TO LOSE FAITH IN ADULTS.

WE USE THE WORD FAITH .

THE PARENTS DID NOT DO THE WORK, AND THE KIDS HAVE LOST FAITH .

YOU, BY YOUR GENEROSITY FOR THESE CHILDREN, YOU HELPED RESTORE THEIR FAITH .

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THAT.

AND I , MY WIFE ASKED HOW EVERY YEAR I GET SO FILLED WITH ANXIETY AND WORRY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF EVERY ONE OF THESE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE IN THE STATE.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS 32 YEARS , BUT I GUESS I HAVE AN ANXIETY ORDER EVERY YEAR THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE KIDS, BUT WE WILL, AND WE WILL BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY PEOPLE EXPRESS ONE BY ONE, WITH ONE GIFT AT A TIME FOR EACH OF THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

IF YOU CAN HELP US THIS YEAR, WE STILL NEED MORE DONATIONS RIGHT NOW.

THEIR WISH LIST YET , AND WE'RE CLOSING IN THIS PEARL HARBOR DAY, 18 DAYS FROM CHRISTMAS , SO IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE GO TO CLARKSCHRISTMASKIDS.COM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IT IS A JOYOUS TIME OF YEAR.

AND IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, GET THEM INVOLVED IN DONATING BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT KIDS LEARN FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE , AND WE ARE PRECIOUS YOUNG CHILDREN OVER HERE THAT LEARN FROM A YOUNG AGE TO GIVE RATHER THAN RECEIVE.

WE REMEMBER IT .

WE FEEL THAT JOY, AND CHRISTMAS MORNING, TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER WHO YOU BOUGHT A GIFT FOR , WHAT YOU BOUGHT THEM, AND IMAGINE THE JOY ON THAT CHILD'S FACE WHEN HE OR SHE OPENS THAT GIFT.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

AND HAVE A MOST PROSPEROUS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR , AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INCLUDING ME AGAIN THIS YEAR.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] ABBE MARIA [ SINGING IN NON-ENGLISH ] [ MUSIC ] SANCTA MARIA, MARIA, MARIA AMEN >> [ APPLAUSE ] >> WAS THAT NOT SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL?

THANK YOU TO THE ATLANTA BOYS CHOIR FOR SHARING YOUR TALENT.

THANK YOU.

AND NOW, ALLOW ME TO WELCOME AND INTRODUCE A MAN WITH GREAT VISION BUT GREATER WORK ETHIC, AND HE TRULY WALKS THE WALK OF PAYS OFF .

WITH STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE FIRST LADY AND THE FIRST FAMILY , OUR 83rd GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA , MR. BRIAN KEMP.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND MARTY, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I DIG NEXT YEAR, I SHOULD SPEAK BEFORE THE WOOD FIRE.

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

YOU DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

HONORED TO HAVE YOU BACK.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT SOUND IN THIS BUILDING.

IT REALLY STARTS THE CHRISTMAS SEASON OFF , AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MARTY AND GERALD IN THE WHOLE GBA TEAM .

A WONDERFUL JOB THEY'VE DONE CREATING, DECORATING THE CAPITAL, ESPECIALLY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE WE HONORED ONE OF GEORGE'S FINEST.

IT CHANGED THE CALENDAR A LITTLE BIT GET THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DO.

I WANT TO THANK OUR GREAT FIRST LADY.

I TELL ALL THE TIME THE GREATEST FIRST LADY IN THE COUNTRY, MARTY KEMP.

I'M HONORED TO HAVE ALL THREE OF OUR DAUGHTERS HERE .

JARRET PORTER, LUCY PORTER, AS WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING.

I WANT TO THANK OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND A GUY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH A LONG TIME , AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING WITH IN THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION, OUR SPEAKER ELECT, JON BURNS , REPRESENTATIVE JON BURNS WITH US TODAY.

ALSO, I WANT TO THINK OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY .

AGAIN, THANKS TO THE BOYS CHOIR FOR JUST THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE FROM YOU, AND I WILL JUST SAY I ENJOYED MY MORNING WORKING IN THE CAPITAL HEARING THE ECHOES OF YOU ALL SINGING OUT HERE AS YOU PREPARED FOR THE DAY'S CEREMONY, AND IT'S A SPECIAL TIME IN THE CAPITAL.

ALSO, JUST CANNOT THINK CLARK HOWARD ENOUGH.

YOU KNOW, OVER 30 YEARS OF DOING THIS, HIS INCREDIBLE, TENACIOUS LEADERSHIP .

HE'S CONTINUE TO STAY UPBEAT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AND HELPED SO MANY OF OUR KIDS IN FOSTER CARE, AND I JUST WANT TO COME AND COMMISSIONER ROCHE, THE WHOLE FEEDING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES FOR WHAT THEY DO, EVERY SINGLE DAY IN CITY.

ONE OF THE HARDEST JOBS IN STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO, THEIR WHOLE TEAM MEMBERS .

THANK EVERYONE THAT IS PARTICIPATED.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TOYS STACKED UP IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT HAVE COME FROM HARD-WORKING STATE EMPLOYEES GIVING BACK TO THE CAUSE THAT'S GREATER THAN OUR OWN, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR THAT SO MUCH AND FOR CONTINUING TO PARTICIPATE IN 'S CHRISTMAS KIDS PROGRAM.

I WOULD URGE ALL GEORGIANS IF YOU HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO HELP OUR FOSTER KIDS AROUND THE STATE.

OVER 10,000 OF THEM.

YOU CAN GO TO CLARKSCHRISTMASKIDS.COM AND HELP THOSE IN NEED, AS MENTIONED.

I WANT TO HELP THANK THE BRIAN'S FAMILY FOR BRINGING THE BEAUTIFUL TREE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE LIGHTING HERE SHORTLY.

THIS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TRADITION IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITES AS A FAMILY, AND IT'S A REMINDER OF ALL THE BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS AND MEMORIES THAT COME WITH CHRISTMAS, AND IT CERTAINLY REMINDS US OF THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL , GOD'S OWN UNENDING LOVE AND HOW WE SHOULD SHARE THIS LOVE AND KINDNESS WITH OTHERS.

EARLIER WHEN AND I WERE IN THE LOBBY WITH MARTY AND THE GIRLS LOOKING AT ALL THE TOYS THAT HAD BEEN DONATED THIS YEAR THAT WOULD GO TO YOUNG CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE , AND THAT IS THANKS TO SO MANY GENEROUS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE AGENCIES AND BEYOND THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO HELPING OVER 10,000 YOUNG GEORGIANS IN FOSTER CARE WHO WILL RECEIVE GIFTS, AND THEY KNOW WHEN THEY GET THAT GIFT, THAT THEY ARE CARED FOR AND THERE IS PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CARE FOR THEM .

MARTY, THE GIRLS AND I, ARE ALWAYS HUMBLED BY SUCH KINDNESS, SO WE'RE NEVER SURPRISED BY THE PEOPLE IN THIS GREAT STATE AND THE BIG HEARTS THAT THEY HAVE, AND THAT'S WHAT GEORGIANS DO.

THAT'S THE PEOPLE, WHO WE ARE.

IT REMINDS ME OF THE STORY OF CHRIST'S BIRTH IN PARTICULAR IN LUKE CHAPTER 2, VERSE SEVEN, WHICH SAID, AND SHE BROUGHT FORTH HER FIRSTBORN SON AND WRAPPED HIM IN SWADDLING CLOTHES AND LAID HIM IN A MANGER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR THEM IN THE INN.

THOSE WERE THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THE SON OF GOD HIMSELF WAS BORN.

TO HIM AND HIS FAMILY, HE HAS ROOM IN HIS HEART FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND HE CONTINUES TO INSPIRE US TO SHOW MERCY AND LOVE FOR OUR FELLOW MAN TO THIS DAY.

THAT IS THE MESSAGE IN THE HOPE.

THAT IS THE LIGHT THAT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS , THAT THE CHRISTMAS TREE REPRESENTS.

WE'RE ESPECIALLY MINDFUL OF THAT TODAY , HAVING LOST LOVED ONES AND CLOSE COLLEAGUES THIS YEAR , INCLUDING A MAN WHOSE PRESENCE WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED IN THESE STORIED HALLWAYS OF THE VERY BUILDING IN WHICH WE SIT.

JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, EXACTLY WHERE THE CHRISTMAS TREE NOW STANDS WAS THE CASKET OF SPEAKER DAVID AS HE WAS LYING IN STATE.

THIS YEAR'S CEREMONY FEEL DIFFERENT WITHOUT HIM.

BUT WE KNOW HIS SPIRIT LIVES ON IN A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE HE KNEW IN HIS HEART THAT CHRIST GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE , AND FOR THAT, WE ARE THANKFUL.

MARTY AND THE GIRLS AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN US HERE TODAY IN PERSON OR ONLINE TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE WITH US AS WE CELEBRATE LOVED ONES BECAUSE OF THEIR SERVICE.

OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THOSE SERVING ACTIVE DUTY OVERSEAS , ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE KEMP FAMILY, I WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL GEORGIANS A SAFE AND JOYOUS HOLIDAY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE .

NOW, LET'S ALL ARISE AND GO LIKE THIS TREE.

GOD BLESS YOU.

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> [ APPLAUSE ] >> EVERYBODY READY?

COUNTDOWN.

FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE .

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

>> [ CHEERING AND APPLAUSE ] >> MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE.