HR1148 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1148 LRB093 23036 KEF 52999 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On Monday, July 19, 2004, national best-selling mystery author Vincent Alexandria will embark on a 560-mile bicycle ride from Kansas City, Missouri to Chicago's Harpo Studios, home of the Oprah Winfrey Show, to help raise funds and awareness to support literacy and reading; and

WHEREAS, Vincent Alexandria is the author of: "If Walls Could Talk," "Postal Blues," "Black Rain," and "Poetry from the Bottom of My Heart"; he is also an actor, producer, director, composer, lyricist, vocalist, screenwriter, and musician; he holds a Masters degree in Literature from Baker University and holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Rockhurst College; and

WHEREAS, Vincent Alexandria is the founder and Chairman of The Brother 2 Brother Literary Symposium, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, whose primary goal is to improve reading and literacy across the nation; his vision for The Brother 2 Brother Symposium is to enlighten men and women in reading and comprehension and to enhance their quality of life, as well as having nationally published authors show a commitment to their communities and give back to their readers in gratitude of what they have done for them and their careers; he will ride 80 miles per day, in his effort to reach Chicago by July 30th, 2004; the organization is raising funds for its third annual Symposium to be held this November in New York City; and

WHEREAS, It is only fitting that Vincent Alexandria's 560-mile ride takes him to the doorstep of Harpo Studios; one of the most respected names in the literary world, Oprah Winfrey, whose book club, "Oprah's Book Club" the largest book club in the world with over 300,000 members, is responsible for many published works becoming New York Times Bestsellers, with some selling over a million copies; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend the efforts of Vincent Alexandria in helping to raise awareness about the importance of reading and literacy to the citizens of this State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Vincent Alexandria as an token of our admiration.