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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Established in 1860, the Boys & Girls Clubs of
3America believe that who you are, where you are from, or the
4circumstances that surround you should not determine your
5access to opportunities; clubs in Illinois are committed to a
6focus on solutions and policies that will have the greatest
7impact on the youth of this State and the fight to strengthen
8them; Illinois's youth have a voice that should be heard, and
9working together will close the opportunity gap for all youth
10in Illinois; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The Boys & Girls Clubs have a mission to enable
12all young people, especially those who are most in need, to
13reach their full potential as productive, caring, and
14responsible citizens; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs have
16been active in the State from Carbondale to Chicago for an
17average of 46 years; at least three clubs have now provided
18more than a century of service in their communities; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs
20provides services to over 63,000 youths at about 100 facilities
21throughout the State with the support of programs such as Teen
22REACH and 21st Century Community Learning Centers and funding

 

 

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1from community foundations, grants, and the generosity of
2private donors; and
 
3    WHEREAS, The Teen REACH program is unique to Illinois and
4represents a partnership between the State of Illinois, through
5the Department of Human Services, and the Illinois Alliance of
6Boys & Girls Clubs that is now entering its 20th year of
7working together to provide great futures for the youth of
8Illinois; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Every $1 invested in a Boys & Girls Club returns
10$11 to its community and to those served; the Illinois Alliance
11of Boys & Girls Clubs spends $29 million annually to provide
12programs to help kids in school, strengthen families, teach
13valuable life skills, and build strong communities that result
14in a $317 million benefit to its youth members and to Illinois
15communities; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Since 1947, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America have
17awarded the National Youth of the Year Award to an exceptional
18young person, the highest award that can be earned by club
19members; youths between the ages of 14 and 18 are first
20selected at the club level, then at the state level; selected
21youths go on to represent their club at the regional and
22national levels; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Since 2013, the Boys & Girls Clubs have also
2awarded a Military Youth of the Year award to a youth receiving
3services and living on a military base, and April is the Month
4of the Military Child; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Youth of the Year candidates are given the
6opportunity to demonstrate and learn leadership skills,
7service to their communities, academic excellence, and healthy
8lifestyles, all while gaining invaluable experience as public
9speakers and ambassadors; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs is
11holding their annual Illinois Youth of the Year celebration on
12April 9th & 10th in concert with National Boys & Girls Club
13Week of April 8-12, 2019; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
15HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16we commend the Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs on its
17dedication to the youth of Illinois and applaud all of the 2019
18Illinois Youth of the Year nominees for their determination to
19excel and serve as an example to other youths throughout the
20State; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That suitable copies be given to the State
22nominees and to their Boys & Girls Club chapters.