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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.