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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate the Optimist Club of 
4Belleville on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its 
5founding; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The Optimist Club of Belleville was chartered and 
7affiliated with Optimist International on September 23, 1923; 
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Optimist Club of Belleville has sponsored and 
10mentored over 16 adult clubs and nine Junior Optimist Clubs in 
11southern Illinois since its origin; it currently sponsors the 
12Octagon Club at Belleville Township High School East and a 
13Junior Optimist Club at Roosevelt Elementary School; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Optimist Club of Belleville participates each 
15year in the Optimist International Scholarship, Oratorical and 
16Essay Contests; it also participates in the Illinois District 
17Optimist themed poster contest for elementary school children 
18each year; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The Optimist Club of Belleville took over 
20sponsorship and operation of the Santa house in downtown 
21Belleville in 1994, which serves over 2,000 children each 
 
 
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1year; the accompanying Santa parade, which also began in 1994,  
2is one of the largest in southern Illinois; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, The Optimist Club of Belleville has worked 
4diligently since 2002 with the schools in Belleville Township 
5High School District 201 to identify and assist families whose 
6children are dealing with cancer and need assistance, 
7providing money, gas cards, transportation, and other needed 
8resources through the Optimist International Childhood Cancer 
9Campaign; the program was expanded and renamed the Childhood 
10Health and Wellness Program in 2022, which focuses on support 
11for four areas, including healthy lifestyles, chronic 
12diseases, mental health, and disabilities; the  club expanded 
13its support to improve the quality of life for children across 
14a broader spectrum of needs in 2023; and
  
 

  
15    WHEREAS, The Optimist Club of Belleville is committed to 
16supporting programs that enhance the health and wellness of 
17children in its community, donating to charitable 
18organizations that provide services to children and donating 
19thousands of volunteer hours; therefore, be it
  
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
21HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
22we congratulate the Optimist Club of Belleville on its 100th 
23anniversary, and we wish them many more wonderful years; and 
 
 
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1be it further
  
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
3presented to the Optimist Club of Belleville as a symbol of our 
4respect and esteem.