Honoring and acknowledging the Student Welfare Council for their ongoing efforts to overcome the high school dropout rate and to help minority students remain in college by providing supplementary aid and guidance to minority students interested in higher education.

WHEREAS, The Student Welfare Council began operation in 1939 under the leadership of twenty-one African American Educators with the goal of overcoming the high school dropout problem by providing supplementary aid and guidance allowing African-American students to obtain a higher education. In celebrating sixty-five years of service, the Council has awarded over $400,000 in scholarships to over two-thousand Philadelphia students; and

WHEREAS, Realizing that today's increasingly harsh economic and social climate demands that community organizations aggressively work to address the needs of our youth, the Student Welfare Council continues to embrace their organization's motto, “So People Won't Be Wasted,” by providing small grants to undergraduates and loans to graduate students; and

WHEREAS, In addition to providing financial support, the Student Welfare Council provides mentoring and ongoing support during the students' collegiate years. Each year there is a network seminar that is held with the students, parents, friends and supporters. The seminar functions to provide the opportunity for fellowship between the financial agencies and the young people they serve so to develop and sustain an ongoing relationship; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

,

That it hereby honors and acknowledges the Student Welfare Council for their ongoing commitment to aiding Philadelphia students in their pursuit of higher education.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Gwynne Hoye, President of the Student Welfare Council, as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End