Recognizing the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter on the Occasion of the 108th Annual Founders' Day of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

WHEREAS, On January 5, 1911, on the campus of Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana, Elder Watson Diggs, John Milton Lee, Byron K. Armstrong, Guy Levis Grant, Ezra D. Alexander, Henry T. Asher, Marcus P. Blakemore, Paul W. Caine, Edward G. Irvin, and George W. Edmonds founded Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Through their vision, these ten astute men founded a college fraternity now comprised of functioning Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters on campuses and in cities throughout this nation and the world and through that seed, a fraternal tree was grown whose fruit of membership is available to, and now enjoyed by, over 150,000 college men, regardless of race, religion, or national origin; and

WHEREAS, From its origin through today, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is a unique organization in that its members share a common purpose of achievement in every field of human endeavor and this unified purpose is exemplified every day by its members in Congress, city halls, courtrooms, boardrooms, newsrooms, classrooms, concert halls, film and recording studios, physicians' offices, athletic fields, fields of combat, pulpits, etc.; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the achievement of its members, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is dedicated to training for leadership and through its various programs, including the A-Man Initiative, Achievement Academy, Guide Right, Kappa Kamp, and Kappa League, has mentored several young men into the past, current, and future leaders of our country; and

WHEREAS, Members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity have a lifelong commitment to serving the common person and, through this commitment, have provided substantial support to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, United Negro College Fund, Habitat for Humanity, and several other nationwide and grassroots community service initiatives around the world; and

WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the City of Philadelphia share a special bond in that the Fraternity's International Headquarters is located in Philadelphia and, historically, the Greater Philadelphia Region has been home to hundreds of members in both Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter on the occasion of the 108th Annual Founders’ Day of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Thomas L. Battles, Jr., 33rd Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., as evidence of the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.

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