WHEREAS, Founded and based in Philadelphia since 1998 by Executive Director Anthony Martin, the Urban Youth Racing School (“UYRS”) is dedicated to providing inner-city children, ages 8 to 18, an opportunity to enhance their education and life skills by using motorsports as a magnet towards education and student achievement; and
WHEREAS, Selected from a pool of applicants, approximately 140 UYRS students attend, for free, 10-week and year round programs consisting of classroom and track sessions, which provide exposure to science, math, chemistry, technology, mechanics, and business and instill positive self esteem, focus, passion, drive, determination, team collaboration, and leadership skills; and
WHEREAS, Through its various partners including GM Racing, GMAC, Craftsman Motorsports, XBOX, NASCAR, Universal Technical Institute, MBNA, Joe Gibbs Racing, SUNOCO, Team Rensi Motorsports, Audiobahn, Art Asylum, and the Philadelphia School District, UYRS, which has been called the Underground Railroad of Motorsports, exposes students to the wide variety of jobs, careers, and small business opportunities in the world of motorsports, which many students would not have been aware of or thought possible; and
WHEREAS, Various athletes including but not limited to Jeff Gordon and Donovan McNabb have supported and visited with UYRS students to encourage them to stay in UYRS and school and to pursue their goals and dreams; and
WHEREAS, In May 2005, UYRS held its first Annual Urban Youth Racing School Grand Prix of Philadelphia where 20 UYRS participants competed in a race on the Parkway for the chance to advance to the East Coast finals of Red Bull’s national “Driver Search” and students were racing miniature versions of Formula One cars that reached up to 90 miles per hour; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the Urban Youth Racing School for its unique program and for providing Philadelphia’s youth with an opportunity to achieve in the classroom and life through motorsports.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of the Urban Youth Racing School as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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