HR0546 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0546 LRB095 12517 GRL 37729 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives would like to honor Glenda Fulton for the work she has done for her community in the fight against sarcoidosis; and

WHEREAS, Sarcoidosis is a disease involving inflammation that produces tiny lumps of cells in various organs in the body; the lumps are called granulomas, which are very small and can be seen only with a microscope; the tiny granulomas can grow and clump together, making many large and small lumps, potentially affecting organ function; and

WHEREAS, Glenda Fulton was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 1975; since her diagnosis, she has helped focus national attention on this disease through her public and pro-active stance toward educating others and through her public advocacy; she has been on the cutting edge of research and efforts to promote education and awareness about sarcoidosis; she has spoken on numerous occasions and presented information on many topics relevant to services and educational awareness about the disease; she has been a speaker, presenter, and panelist at numerous sarcoidosis conferences throughout the State and has been involved in efforts to develop sarcoidosis support groups; she has written grants to secure financial support for sarcoidosis research and awareness issues and assisted with other fundraising activities, including setting up the JSRC's first Walk-A-Thon in Houston, Texas, grant initiatives, and live radio shows; she submitted an abstract to the WASOG Congress, which was accepted for the June 2002 meeting in Stockholm, Sweden; in 1995, she founded the National Sarcoidosis Society, Inc., an organization that has been very successful in bringing educational awareness, services, advocacy, support, and research initiatives to health care providers, the public at large, elected officials, and to its many networking partners, such as the African American Family Research Institute and the Minority Women Association; and

WHEREAS, Glenda Fulton was born on September 24, 1950; she received her education through the Chicago public schools; she attended Drake Grammar School and Oakenwald Upper Grade School, then went on to Forrestville High School and Northern Illinois University; she has acquired expertise and experience in the areas of Certified Nursing Technician, Medical Technician, Mentor, Health Caretaker for HIV and cocaine addicted babies, Rehabilitation Nursing, and Hospice; she was the Head Volunteer for the Chicago Board of Education and the P.T.A. Advisory Committee for Grammar, Elementary, and High Schools, as well as the John Hope Community Academy and Martin Luther King High School; she was a volunteer for the Northside Chicago Boys and Girls Club of America; she is a surrogate parent for the Department of Children and Family Services and the Board of Education; she has served on several boards and committees on the national, regional, State, and local levels; she assisted with the passing of House Bill 2564, House Bill 2470, House Bill 2479, House Bill 2480, House Bill 2485, and House Bill 2486; she is the Chairperson for the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois (now known as the Gift of Hope); she has been a volunteer for the AmeriCorp Vista Illinois Institute of Technology, The National Institute of Health, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, and the Public Interest Organization; she is a member of the Chicago Center of Excellence in Health Promotion Economics; she developed a task force with the Chicago Department of Public Health and Commissioner Terry Mason; she has acquired many accolades, trophies, certificates, plaques, citations, awards, and personal letters of commendation from First Proclamation on Sarcoidosis in Detroit, Michigan, the National Sarcoidosis Society Bernie Mac and Nike Shoe Giveaway in 2002, the 4Women.gov Women Day Conference 2006, and the Martin Luther King Youth Program in January 2007; and

WHEREAS, Glenda Fulton is married to Charles E. Skillom; she is the mother of three daughters, Sheree Fulton-Jackson, Gernard Fulton, and Shetanys Fulton; she is the grandmother of Darrius Fulton, Nada Johnson, Chanel Jackson, Sydney Jackson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Glenda Fulton for her fight against sarcoidosis and wish her continued health and happiness in the future; and be it further

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