Honoring PathWays PA as the winner of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce's Annual Excellence Award as the Non-Profit of the Year.

WHEREAS, This year marks the 30th Annual Excellence Awards celebration by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, which acknowledges the accomplishments of small businesses and the contributions they make to our regional economy. Nominated by their peers throughout our 11-county region, the awards are presented in 10 categories; and

WHEREAS, Nominees of the award must be headquartered in the Chamber's 11-county Greater Philadelphia area and have between one and 100 employees. The nominees must be owned and independently operated and also have four (4) full years of revenue and if picked as a finalist must be able to provide percentage of gross revenue growth over the past 3 years.

Nominees, must show commitment to social responsibility and exemplify strong community involvement.

WHEREAS, The nominees for the non-profit of the year must be a 501(c) and demonstrate outstanding contributions to the community. The nominee must show benefits of service and how they set the organization apart including the quantitative results of their initiatives; and

WHEREAS, The Chamber created the Small Business Excellence Awards in 1982 which were later renamed the Excellence Awards Honoring the Region's Small Businesses in order to showcase the achievement and impact of small businesses in our region. Each year, businesses with fewer than 100 employees are recognized for their creativity, vitality, stability and relevance. Equally important in selecting winners are civic involvement and responsiveness, corporate responsibility, employee recognition and concerns regarding service issues. Over the years, the scope of the Excellence Awards has grown with the help of the Small Business Board. The Small Business Board has created new initiatives and categories, increased involvement in the nomination process, and established criteria for measuring and defining excellence.; and

WHEREAS, PathWays PA was founded in 1978 as the Women's Association for Women's Alternatives and has served as one of Pennsylvania's first residential programs to keep low-income, vulnerable women together with their children. PathWays PA has grown to become one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's foremost providers of residential and community-based services for women, children and families. Each year over 64,000 women, children and families benefit from their full complement of social services; public advocacy, job training and employment assistance; as well as outreach and residential programs as they move along the path to self-sufficiency; and

WHEREAS, PathWays PA provides programs committed to the development of client self-sufficiency which leads to the fulfillment of their mission to help women, teens, children and families achieve economic independence and family well-being.; and

WHEREAS, P

athWays PA is accredited by the National Council on Accreditation and is a member in good standing of both the Child Welfare League of America and the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services. In recognition of their service to Pennsylvania they have received numerous awards. These include Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network Award; Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year; Philadelphia Department of Human Services Children's Crusader Award; and The Child Welfare League of America's Private Agency Advocate of the Year Award among countless other citations and recognition from both public and private entities

; and

WHEREAS, For their outstanding commitment to sustain the efforts of women and children in their move toward independence and self-sufficiency, PathWays PA was awarded the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce's Annual Excellence Award as the Non-profit of the year; now therefore

RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia recognizes and commends PathWays PA and the winner of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce's Annual Excellence Award as the non-profit of the year.

Further, Resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to PathWays PA as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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