HR0716 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0716 LRB100 15438 MST 30941 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Chicago Cubs' first baseman Anthony Rizzo on being selected for the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award; and

WHEREAS, The Roberto Clemente Award is presented annually to the Major League Baseball player who best represents the game through "extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions" on and off the field; and

WHEREAS, Anthony Rizzo is the third Cubs player to receive the award, following Rick Sutcliffe in 1987 and Sammy Sosa in 1998, and the first from Chicago since White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko was a co-winner in 2014; and

WHEREAS, Anthony Rizzo is a five-time nominee for the award; his Rizzo Family Foundation has raised $4 million over the years helping families of cancer patients; he hosts several fundraisers a year both in season and during the winter; and

WHEREAS, Anthony Rizzo survived cancer himself, having been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma while playing minor league baseball in 2008; during his time in treatment, he made a commitment with his mother to build an organization dedicated to benefiting cancer research and the families fighting the disease; and

WHEREAS, Anthony Rizzo is involved with cancer centers at the University of Miami Health System, the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, and Gilda's Club Chicago; he frequently visits the children in the infusion center at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, where they receive chemotherapy; earlier this year, his foundation made a $3.5 million endowment to Lurie Children's Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Anthony Rizzo was voted by the MLB players as the recipient of the 2017 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award; he was nominated by his teammates and chosen from a final group of six; the award is given to the player who most inspires others to higher levels of achievement through his on-field performance and contributions to his community; and

WHEREAS, During his early days with the Cubs, Anthony Rizzo kept an autographed photo of Ernie Banks and him inside his locker signed with the words "Dream big"; now his catchphrase to the children and families he meets is "Stay strong and dream big"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Chicago Cubs' first baseman Anthony Rizzo on winning the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award; and be it further

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