HR0760 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0760 LRB096 15787 KXB 31027 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Cara Program for receiving the 2009 Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Award for community groups who have exemplary programs in communities faced with poverty; and

WHEREAS, The Cara Program was founded in 1991 by Chicagoan, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Thomas M. Owens; and

WHEREAS, The Cara Program is a premier model for alleviating poverty in the nation; working with hundreds of top companies, community organizations, volunteers, and funders, The Cara Program has placed 2,500 motivated Chicagoans affected by homelessness and poverty into permanent, quality employment with wages well-above Illinois minimum wage and benefits since 1991; and

WHEREAS, Through The Cara Program's intensive training and support services, thousands of Chicagoans and their families have been empowered to break out of the cycle of poverty and onto the path of self-sufficiency; and

WHEREAS, Cleanslate, The Cara Program's social enterprise, also helps to revitalize Chicago's communities by providing neighborhood beautification services while providing transitional employment (internships) to Cara students with significant obstacles to employment; and

WHEREAS, The Cara Program will receive the 2009 Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Award on November 18, 2009; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Cara Program on receiving the 2009 Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Award and thank them for their efforts in alleviating unemployment and poverty; and be it further

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