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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate Sam Banks on the 
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occasion of his stepping down as President and CEO of 
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Cunningham Children's Home and for accepting a new position as 
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CEO of Glenwood School for Boys and Girls; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Sam Banks attended Quincy University in Quincy, 
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where he received the Outstanding Achievement Award for 
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academic and volunteer achievements as an undergraduate; after 
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completing his bachelor's degree at Quincy University, he 
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received his master of social work degree from the University 
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of Illinois at Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Sam Banks began his career in social work at 
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Chaddock in Quincy, where he worked for six years before coming 
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to Cunningham Children's Home in 1982 as program coordinator; 
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after briefly working as acting director, he was appointed 
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President/CEO in May of 1989; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Sam Banks, Cunningham 
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Children's Home grew from a staff of 75 serving 57 youth with 
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an annual budget of under $1 million into a multi-faceted child 
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welfare agency with a staff of 222 and an annual budget of 
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$12.5 million; the facility has also expanded to provide a 
 


 






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variety of residential, community-based, and educational 
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services to over 260 youth and their families every year, 
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including the construction of recreation facilities at Lake 
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Mattoon, the Kendall Gill Boys' Group Home, CIRCLE Academy, the 
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Residential Treatment Center, and the Spiritual Life Center; 
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the facility also boasts a balanced annual budget and has 
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received statewide recognition for the quality of its programs 
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and has dramatically increased its levels of charitable 
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support; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In early March of 2008, Sam Banks will become the 
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CEO of Glenwood School for Boys and Girls, a community 
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supported non-profit organization that provides socially and 
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economically disadvantaged children with a comprehensive 
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residential, education, and life-skills program; the school 
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will certainly be well served with Mr. Banks at its head; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Sam Banks has also been an active member in his 
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community through his many civic memberships; he serves as 
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Chair-Elect of the United Methodist Association of Health and 
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Welfare Ministries, a 400 member organization consisting of 
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United Methodist-related child and family, older adult, and 
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health services agencies across the United States; he serves on 
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the board of directors of Quincy University, Busey Bank, the 
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Developmental Services Center Foundation, and the Prairielands 
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Council of the Boy Scouts of America;  he was also a former 
 


 






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member of the board of directors of the Illinois Child Care 
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Association; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Sam Banks was the recipient of the Administrator 
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of the Year Award from the United Methodist Association in 
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honor of his many contributions to the welfare of others; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Sam Banks officiated in men's college basketball 
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games at the Division I level for 20 years; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Sam Banks' wife, Maureen, serves as the Director 
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of Safety and Compliance at the University of Illinois; 
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together, they have three children, Bryan, Brittany, and 
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Danielle; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Sam Banks' dedication and commitment to the needs 
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of children with special needs throughout this State is an 
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inspiration to all and a model of charity and goodwill for the 
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citizens of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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thank Sam Banks for his many years of service, congratulate him 
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on his new position and wish him continued success and 
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happiness in the future; and be it further

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Sam Banks as a symbol of our esteem and respect.