A Resolution Honoring the Chicago Defender Charities. Inc. and the Bud Billiken
Day Parade and Picnic
WHEREAS, the Chicago Defender Newspaper was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott as a literary medium for local and national news and to raise awareness of the injustices suffered by African-Americans; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Defender Charities, Inc. was founded to continue the tradition of addressing the needs and concerns of African Americans set forth by the Chicago Defender Newspaper; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Defender Charities, Inc. achieves its mission through cultural, social and educational programs; and
WHEREAS, the Bud Billiken Day Parade and Picnic is an annual event planned by the Chicago Defender Charities, Inc. to entertain, encourage and empower children across Illinois who are returning to school; and
WHEREAS, the Bud Billiken Day Parade and Picnic is the largest African-American parade of its kind and will mark its 86th anniversary on August 8, 2015, when it will continue to highlight the importance of education and supporting students, teachers, schools and principals; and
WHEREAS, in addition to running the Bud Billiken Day Parade and Picnic, the Chicago Defender Charities, Inc. also offers programs to improve the quality of life for African-Americans students including a scholarship initiative that has supported the education of hundreds of students by offering more than 1.5 million dollars in scholarships funds since its inception. Scholarship receptients are represented at educational institutions in various states throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, the current President of Chicago Defender Charities, Inc., Colonel Eugene F. Scott, US Army - Retired, has served in this capacity for over a decade; and
WHEREAS, this year's Bud Billiken Day Parade and Picnic will be the final parade with Colonel Scott at the helm of the Chicago Defenders Charities, Inc., who, as president, deepened and continued to emphasize the importance of education as the t...
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