WHEREAS, On December 13, 2000, there was a Holiday Dinner in the Grand Ballroom at the First District Plaza in West Philadelphia. At the dinner were five hundred homeless families, the majority of them children; and
WHEREAS, This was a full-scale gala, including a full course gourmet meal, entertainment by the Point Breeze Performing Arts Council, and toys for each child in attendance provided by Penn Mutual Life, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, American Community Partners and AmeriChoice; and
WHEREAS, A traditional holiday meal was prepared by the staff of Gabe Marabella and Neil Stein of Striped Bass and Avenue B, two of the City’s top restaurateurs and served by volunteers from the Restaurant School and the School of Culinary Arts. Desserts were donated by Giuseppe Sena of La Famiglia; and
WHEREAS, We also recognize the efforts of Ms. Jeanne Bund, Director of Professional Healthcare Institute; Mr. John Coates of the Redevelopment Authority; Mr. Al Williams of American Community Partners; Robert Beven of Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company; Mr. KeVen Parker owner of Simply Delicious Caterers; AmeriChoice and Mr. Michael Nardone and Mr. Louis Souder of OESS; and
WHEREAS, They and all the other members of the Holiday Dinner Committee went far beyond the call of duty to make December 13th a night that hundreds of our citizens will remember for years to come; and
WHEREAS, Events such as the Third District Holiday Dinner reflect the Christmas Spirit in its purest and fullest form; it is the spirit of giving and the generosity of heart which make lives richer and thus make Philadelphia a more caring and compassionate place; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and commend all the members of the Third District Holiday Dinner Committee and volunteers. We thank them for their civic commitment and act of humanitarianism, and we extend to them the sincere respect and deep admiration of this legislative body.
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