HR1191 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1191 LRB099 21545 GRL 47873 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Sophia Shaw on the occasion of her retirement as President and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Gardens; and

WHEREAS, Sophia Shaw served as the Chicago Botanic Gardens' President and CEO for eight years; in that time, she has developed the Chicago Botanic Gardens into one of the truly great botanic gardens and plant conservation science centers in the world; and

WHEREAS, During Sophia Shaw's tenure, the Chicago Botanic Gardens opened the Gold LEED-rated 38,000 square-foot Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center, the Trellis Bridge, the Bernice E. Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden, the Grunsfeld Children's Growing Garden, the Butterflies and Blooms exhibit, and the Kleinman Family Cove; renovated the Garden View Cafe and Plant Information Service; completed the North Lake shoreline restoration and the 1.3-mile North Branch multi-use trail addition; and planned and broke ground for the Regenstein Foundation Learning Campus building and garden; and

WHEREAS, Under Sophia Shaw's leadership, the Chicago Botanic Gardens experienced a 52% increase in attendance, six straight years of recording-breaking financial performance, and three straight years of recording-breaking fundraising results; and

WHEREAS, Inspired by the experiences she had leading the Chicago Botanic Gardens over the past 10 years, Sophia Shaw now looks forward to defining new ways in which she can positively impact the well-being of people and the environment during the next stage of her career; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Sophia Shaw for her service, congratulate her on her retirement, and wish her well in her future endeavors; and be it further

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