Honoring Jim Ellis and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, "PDR", Swim Team.

WHEREAS, The City Council of Philadelphia is pleased and proud to honor Mr. Jim Ellis for over forty years of civic and community service to the City of Philadelphia through his out standing work as a competitive swimming coach, mentor to youth and motivational speaker as well as the founding and development of the nationally recognized PDR Swim Team; and

WHEREAS, The soon to be released “Pride”, is a Liongate film staring Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac and Kimberly Elise is based on the true events surrounding USA Swimming coach Jim Ellis and the PDR Swim Team. “Pride” tells the story of a swim coach and youth mentor who built a successful swimming program in North Philadelphia in the 1970’s; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ellis founded PDR Swim Team based at the Marcus Foster Recreation Center in the Nicetown Section of Philadelphia in 1971; and

WHEREAS, Over the past thirty-five years Jim Ellis has been introducing competitive swimming to inner city youth and their families. His coaching has provided a healthy and stipulating environment in which young athletes can grow and compete; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ellis teaches the PDR swimmers more than how to compete in the water; he teaches them success through hard work, dedication to teamwork and other important life changing lessons that prepare them for a better future; and

WHEREAS, Today PDR Swim Team is the City’s nationally recognized competitive swim team, has sent numerous swimmers to the US Olympic team trials, is the nation’s best predominately African American team and has become a model for urban swim programs around the country; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia, no doubt, greatly and knowingly privileged to hold within its borders the bright and enduring light of this vibrant leader, groundbreaker, public servant and devotee to youth and athletics; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize and congratulate Mr. Jim Ellis for his thirty-five years of civic and community service to the City of Philadelphia through his outstanding service as a swimming coach and youth mentor and the release of the major motion picture based on his life and experiences in building on of the counties’ premier African American swim teams; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Jim Ellis as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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