RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Illinois Restaurant Association will celebrate one-hundred years of service promoting the restaurant industry in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois at a special event to be held on February 27, 2014; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this milestone by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1914, the Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Today the Illinois Restaurant Association serves more than 3,000 members; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Restaurant Association manages many great events, including Chicago Gourmet, Taste of Chicago, The Annual Golf Classic, and Chefs Table; and
WHEREAS, Chicago Gourmet was founded in 2008 as a celebration of food and wine that showcases more than 175 of Chicago's finest restaurants and chefs, as well as hundreds of renowned vintners, spirit makers, and premium breweries from around the world; and
WHEREAS, The Association has managed the food and beverage operations at Taste of Chicago for three decades which celebrates diverse cuisine; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation builds the hospitality workforce through career exploration and workforce development programs, scholarships and Job Readiness programs; and
WHEREAS, Through its ProStart® Program, the foundation has reached more than 4,000 students in 55 schools across the state; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has awarded more than $2.25 million in culinary scholarships; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to offer a full line of member services and benefits, exciting new programs and networking opportunities and strong political advocacy for the industry; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City of Chicago City Council, assembled this day fifth day of March, 2014, do hereby congratulate the Illinois Restaurant Association for a century of promoting and protecting the restaurant industry and extend our very best wishes for another one-hundred years of dedicated service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Restaurant Association. /