Honoring Stephen Girard upon 250th Anniversary of his birth.

WHEREAS, Stephen Girard, a merchant, mariner, banker, philanthropist, humanitarian, and patriot, was born on May 20, 1750 in Bordeaux, France, came to America by way of Philadelphia in 1776, and upon his arrival in Philadelphia, Stephen Girard made America his permanent home; and

WHEREAS, The bank of Stephen Girard provided the U.S. Government with much needed credit in the United States' effort to preserve American autonomy during the War of 1812, becoming so essential to the republic during the war that it became known as the "sheet anchor"; and

WHEREAS, Toward the end of the war, when the U.S. faced serious credit difficulties, Stephen Girard subscribed for 95% of the government war loan enabling the U.S. to continue its war effort and subsequently defend and preserve the nation; and

WHEREAS, Upon his death on December 26, 1831, Stephen Girard bequeathed a very large sum of money for the establishment of Girard College. A private board school designated to help educate children in unfavorable financial situations, Girard College has educated over 20,000 young men and women in the last 150 years. Almost 100% of the students that have graduated from Girard College have been accepted into college and many of these young men and women have been assisted by Girard College scholarships. Currently, Girard College is in the process of educating 600 boys and girls ranging from grades 1 to 12; and

WHEREAS, While by today's standard Stephen Girard would be viewed as prejudiced for his gift that established Girard College to educate "poor, white, male orphans," has bequest reflected commonly-held values of his day and does not diminish the generous impulses that gave rise to that bequest, and, through the intervention of the United States Supreme Court, today educates so many thousands of underprivileged boys and girls regardless of race, religion, or creed; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors the life and remarkable contributions to American society of Stephen Girard upon celebrating the 250th Anniversary of his birth.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Girard College as evidence of the sincere admiration of this legislative body for the life and legacy of Stephen Girard.

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