Honoring H.F. "Gerry" and Marguerite Lenfest.

WHEREAS

, On Wednesday, May 13, 2009, Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest accepted the prestigious eighty-eighth Philadelphia Award; and

WHEREAS

, Their civic, cultural, and philanthropic leadership exemplify the very spirit of the Philadelphia Award; and

WHEREAS

, The Lenfests had the finest example to follow the both business and philanthropy in the form of Walter and Lenore Annenberg, the former being Mr. Lenfest's employer and mentor, and the latter being the recipient of the eighty-seventh Philadelphia Award just last year; and

WHEREAS

, They have spent the past decade financially supporting and stewarding many of Philadelphia's most treasured institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Curtis Institute of Music, and the Kimmel Center, among countless others; and

WHEREAS

, Through the generosity and activism, the City of Philadelphia will shortly be home to another treasure, The Barnes Foundation Museum; and

WHEREAS

, Since 2000, one hundred eighty organizations have benefitted from the generosity of the Lenfests and their Lenfest Foundation in the form of donations ranging from one hundred thousand to ninety-three million dollars; and

WHEREAS

, Their dedicated and thoughtful services and gracious donation of their time and the resources of The Lenfest Foundation make Gerry and Marguerite stellar examples of philanthropy for us all to follow; now therefore

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

That it hereby recognizes, honors, and celebrates Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest.

FURTHER RESOLVED,

That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Lenfest as evidence of the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

End