Recognizing, honoring, celebrating, and thanking Wilbur W. Oaks, M.D., for his selfless commitment to serving the public in the City of Philadelphia, by having established the St. John's Hospice Homeless Soccer Team Program, "Body And Soul."

WHEREAS

, Dr. Oaks has created a program that offers opportunities for homeless people in Philadelphia to join and participate in a soccer team and use this activity as a vehicle for developing successful life skills with the goal of becoming productive citizens; and

WHEREAS

, In today's world, homeless people face a myriad of challenges which include having no place to live, having poor nutrition or no nutrition at all, and being penniless, resulting, too often, in feelings of hopelessness and despair; and

WHEREAS

, The Homeless Soccer Team Program, “Body and Soul” attempts to solve this problem by providing new hope, building confidence, inspiring courage, and helping the participants to develop a new-found sense of pride, thus redirecting them towards a much improved and healthier life-style; and

WHEREAS

, The Homeless Soccer Team Program's slogan is “You 'gotta believe' - Be the best that you can be - Never, ever give up!!!” with its focus on building in the participants a “winning feeling”; and

WHEREAS

, The Program is made possible through the charitable efforts from Hahnemann University, Lafayette College, and Puma Sports Equipment as well as through St. John's Hospice; and

WHEREAS

,The Council of the City of Philadelphia looks forward to the continued success of the “Body and Soul” program, and wishes it best of luck with its training for the World Cup Homeless Soccer Tournament; now therefore

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

, That it recognizes, honors, celebrates, and thanks Wilbur W. Oaks, M.D., for his selfless commitment to serving the public in the City of Philadelphia, by having established the St. John's Hospice Homeless Soccer Team Program, “Body and Soul.”

FURTHER RESOLVED

, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Wilbur W. Oaks, M.D., further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

End