HR1584 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1584 LRB095 22686 KXB 53321 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Merri Dee, director of community relations and manager of WGN-TV Children's Charities, on her retirement; and

WHEREAS, Merri Dee will lend her noteworthy talents, experiences, and contacts to a variety of businesses, from Fortune 500 companies to community organizations, as a consultant; and

WHEREAS, For 37 years, Merri Dee has held a number of high profile positions at WGN-TV, from newscaster, talk-show host, staff announcer, and editorial spokesperson, before moving into the management ranks in her current position; she has also hosted countless parades, telethons, and TV specials; and

WHEREAS, She has shared camera time and stages around the world with the likes of Lou Rawls, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Nancy Wilson, Bernie Mac, Tom Joyner, Ed McMahon, Frank Sinatra, and literally hundreds of other well-known entertainers and personalities; and

WHEREAS, She is a recipient of many awards honoring her broadcasting experience, including the Silver Circle "Lifetime Achievement Award" presented by the Chicago Academy of TV Arts and Sciences, the national "Gracie Allen Award' by the National Association of American Women in Radio and TV, and the "Adoption Excellence Award' by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; and

WHEREAS, As manager of WGN-TV Children's Charities, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, she raised over $30 million for various children's organizations in Chicago and made the welfare of children waiting to be adopted in Illinois her personal project; and

WHEREAS, A strong believer in education, Merri Dee has also hosted the United Negro College Fund's "Evening of Stars" for 30 years, serving two years as the volunteer general chairman of the nationally televised event; she is the co-founder of Athletes For Better Education (AFBE), an academic, athletic program, where graduates like Coach Terry Cummings, Doc Rivers, Tony Brown, and others received academic support, guidance, and motivation toward reaching their goals as professional athletes; and

WHEREAS, Merri Dee serves on the boards of several organizations including: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Associated Colleges of Illinois, Adoptions Unlimited, Junior Achievement, the Chinese American Service League, and the board of the Illinois Council of AARP; and

WHEREAS, On July 17, 1971 Merri Dee was kidnapped and almost murdered by a stalker; when this happened she was given last rites, but she survived, overcoming paralysis and blindness, and she was inspired by her second chance in life; and

WHEREAS, She continues to serve on the Illinois Attorney General's Violent Crime Victims Commission and the States Attorney's Advisory Council on violence; most recently she was confirmed by the Chicago City Council as a member of the Mayor's Advisory Council on Women and appointed through the Pentagon as a United States Army Ambassador; and

WHEREAS, Merri Dee is married to Nicholas Fulop and has one daughter, Toya Campbell; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Merri Dee on her retirement and wish her the best in all her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Merri Dee and WGN-TV as a symbol of our sincere respect.