| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | SENATE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The Illinois Senate proudly recognizes | ||||||
| 3 | organizations whose work strengthens our communities, empowers | ||||||
| 4 | young people, and invests in the leaders of tomorrow; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, Boys & Girls Clubs across Illinois serve | ||||||
| 6 | approximately 75,000 young people in 51 communities statewide, | ||||||
| 7 | providing safe and supportive environments during critical | ||||||
| 8 | out-of-school hours and offering academic support, literacy | ||||||
| 9 | programming, and mentorship that strengthens early learning | ||||||
| 10 | and educational outcomes; in 2024, Boys & Girls Clubs in | ||||||
| 11 | Illinois communities served more than 1,691,325 meals and | ||||||
| 12 | snacks to young people, and with the State's past investment, | ||||||
| 13 | Clubs provided almost 10,000 additional youths a place to | ||||||
| 14 | belong; and | ||||||
| 15 | WHEREAS, The impact of Boys & Girls Clubs on academic, | ||||||
| 16 | personal, and professional achievement is profound, with a | ||||||
| 17 | reported 95% of Club youth in Illinois expected to graduate | ||||||
| 18 | high school and 91% planning to go to college; and | ||||||
| 19 | WHEREAS, The Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs | ||||||
| 20 | serves as the statewide network and advocacy voice for Clubs | ||||||
| 21 | operating throughout Illinois, supporting them in delivering | ||||||
| 22 | high-quality, affordable programming to young people in urban, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | suburban, and rural communities; and | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, Investing in Boys & Girls Clubs represents a | ||||||
| 3 | strong partnership between the State of Illinois, local | ||||||
| 4 | communities, families, and the private sector, and expanding | ||||||
| 5 | access to out-of-school programming will support working | ||||||
| 6 | families, strengthen communities, and help ensure that all | ||||||
| 7 | young people have access to the opportunities they need to | ||||||
| 8 | learn, grow, and succeed; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, The Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and | ||||||
| 10 | its member organizations are visiting Springfield to advocate | ||||||
| 11 | for the young people of Illinois and demonstrate the statewide | ||||||
| 12 | commitment to youth development embodied by Boys & Girls | ||||||
| 13 | Clubs; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 14 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL | ||||||
| 15 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 24, | ||||||
| 16 | 2026 as Illinois Boys & Girls Clubs Day in the State of | ||||||
| 17 | Illinois, in recognition of the Illinois Alliance of Boys & | ||||||
| 18 | Girls Clubs Advocacy Day in Springfield and in celebration of | ||||||
| 19 | the profound contributions Boys & Girls Clubs make to young | ||||||
| 20 | people and communities across our State; and be it further | ||||||
| 21 | RESOLVED, That we commend the Illinois Alliance of Boys & | ||||||
| 22 | Girls Clubs and its member organizations, staff, and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | volunteers for their dedication to providing safe, accessible, | ||||||
| 2 | and enriching programming that helps young people across | ||||||
| 3 | Illinois communities achieve their full potential; and be it | ||||||
| 4 | further | ||||||
| 5 | RESOLVED, That we encourage continued investment and | ||||||
| 6 | support for Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Illinois, | ||||||
| 7 | recognizing that their work is essential to the health, | ||||||
| 8 | safety, academic success, and future prosperity of our State's | ||||||
| 9 | young people and the communities they call home; and be it | ||||||
| 10 | further | ||||||
| 11 | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | ||||||
| 12 | delivered to the Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs as a | ||||||
| 13 | symbol of our esteem and respect. | ||||||