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REAL MEN COOK PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, on Sunday, Father's Day June 19, 2011, Real Men Cook will be presented at Chicago State University by the nonprofit, Real Men Charities, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Real Men Cook was founded in Chicago 22 years ago and is now the nation's largest day of service event on Father's Day, demonstrating that real men are nurturing: providing sustenance, care, love, and work to build healthy families and communities; and
WHEREAS, Real Men Cook family celebrations are the nation's longest-rijnning urban Father's Day family event, featuring male volunteers from neighborhoods in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, raising funds, and devoting time and resources to cook and serve samples of their favorite dishes to help nonprofit organizations; and
WHEREAS, Real Men Cook has transformed Father's Day globally into an exciting and highly anticipated day, growing the tradition of individual and group service and family celebrations around food; and
WHEREAS, Real Men Cook turns the spotlight on the bonus fathers and father-figures who step in when biological fathers are not involved in the lives of children, and encourages the celebration of those men; and
WHEREAS, Real Men Cook generates national media attention each Father's Day, recognizing fathers and father-figures beyond grandfathers and uncles to coaches, ministers, teachers, neighbors and any man who has donated time and talent to help children; and
WHEREAS, Real Men Cook events have been responsible for raising more than $1 million for the Boys & Girls fclubs, Community Mental Health Council, the South Side YMCA, foundations, museums and family service organizations; and
WHEREAS, Real Men Cook is co-sponsored by Verizon, K&G Fashion Superstore, Illinois Lottery, Moo & Oink, Provident Hospital of Cook County, the Urban Health Initiative ofthe University of Chicago Medical Centers, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services; and
WHEREAS, Real Men Cook, through Real Men Charities, presents a Health & Wellness Pavilion in all cities on Father's Day, providing free health screenings, nutritional education and fresh fruits and vegetables; and
WHEREAS, Real Men Cook merchandise, including Real Men Cook Sweet Potato Pound Cake Mix and coffee, promotes conversation regarding real men, past and present; and
WHEREAS, this year marks the 22 ariniversary of Real Men Cook and the twelfth year in leading cities across the country; and
WHEREAS, Kofi Moyo and Yvette Moyo were joined by ten women and one-hundred men in 1989 to create a commonsense way to increase male involvement, and to celebrate and demonstrate the rewards of family and community service;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF CHICAGO encourages all citizens to follow this family tradition of volunteerism, family and community contribution on this Father's Day and each an every Father's Day to come.
Roderick T. Sawyer, Alderman, 6th Ward
Dated this 8th day of June 2011