WHEREAS, The Father’s Day Rally Committee (FDRC) was created three decades ago by a group of African American men who saw the need to develop meaningful programs and activities for the African American male population of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS; The founding members of the FDRC were Dr. Therman Evans, Rev. Clarence Hester, Steve Pina, Vernon Price, Bilal Qayyum and Rev. Henry Wells; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the FDRC is to promote positive action and interaction among individuals to prompt a more aggressive hands-on approach towards resolving a range of problems confronting African-American communities, such as violence and lack of effective youth mentorship; and
WHEREAS, Since its creation, the FDRC has initiated several valuable programs, such as the “David P. Richardson, Jr. Rites of Passage Program”, which caters to African-American males ages 11-18. The Program focuses on helping youth with the transition into responsible manhood; and
WHEREAS, The FDRC also created “Operation Footprint,” a mentoring program for high school students in Philadelphia’s public school system, and “Project Safe Life” an initiative offering counseling to at-risk males, teaching non-violent alternatives to confrontational behavior and providing support to men and fathers who have lost a loved one due to violence; and
WHEREAS, The FDRC has also coordinated several events, including the “Live and Let Live Campaign”, which was a citywide anti-violence effort to stop senseless acts of violence in our City. Additionally, the Organization has an annual Father’s Day Picnic which has reached over 10,000 fathers in 30 years, to celebrate fatherhood and honor fathers who are making a significant contribution to their families and communities; and
WHEREAS, The FDRC continues to serve as a strong support system for African American men and fathers, helping them to flourish despite the daily pressures of our society. For the past 30 years, the FDRC has remained committed to reducing violence in our communities by advocating positive interaction among men, and their dedication and achievements should be celebrated
;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Father’s Day Rally Committee, and their efforts and initiatives that have positively impacted the quality of life of African American communities and men of color in the City of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Region.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Father’s Day Rally Committee as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
End