RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 20, 2016
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RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing the Barbara Bates Foundation
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WHEREAS, Barbara Bates is a self-taught fashion designer known nationwide as a leader in creating fashionable styles for celebrities as well as the “everyday” man and woman; and
WHEREAS, Barbara has dressed some of the world’s most fabulous fashionistas, entertainers, celebrity clients, community leaders and influential figures, and her success inspired Barbara to give back to the community using her talents; and
WHEREAS, the Barbara Bates Foundation was founded in 1999 to recognize excellent inner-city high school students by creating custom made prom dresses and formal attire for them at no charge; and
WHEREAS, the foundation seeks to empower underprivileged teens to rise above their difficult circumstances and become successful individuals in their chosen field of study; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, the foundation also began to focus on breast cancer awareness and education for women of color; and
WHEREAS, the Sinai Urban Health Institute has documented that black women in Chicago are 48% more likely to die from breast cancer compared to white women; and
WHEREAS, Barbara is pioneering the movement to support breast cancer education for women of color through fashion; and
WHEREAS, a seven-year breast cancer survivor herself, Barbara committed to raise half a million dollars to endow the Barbara Bates Foundation Breast Wellness Center at Sinai Health System; and
WHEREAS, the foundation has surpassed that goal, raising more than $515,000 toward the effort and construction is underway for the Center; and
WHEREAS, the Barbara Bates Foundation hosts an annual “Knocking Out Breast Cancer” fundraiser, a runway event featuring models who are breast cancer survivors; and
WHEREAS, this year’s event, held October 16th at the Bridgeport Art Center, commemorated the 30th anniversary of Barbara Bates Designs and raised funds for the Barbara Bates Foundation’s two initiatives - uplifting inner city youth, and breast cancer awareness and education for women of color; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, hereby recognize Barbara Bates and the Barbara Bates Foundation for her commitment to inner-city youth and raising both funds and awareness for breast cancer in women of color; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Barbara Bates.
Dated: October 20, 2016
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; MICHAEL A. ALVAREZ; TIMOTHY BRADFORD; CYNTHIA M. SANTOS; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; DAVID J. WALSH; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel, RMH:aw