WHEREAS, the Chicago Defender Charities is hosting the 89 Annual Bud Billiken Parade and Festival, the largest and oldest African American parade in the nation, which each year draws crowds of hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators; and
WHEREAS, the Bud Billiken® Parade was founded in 1929 by Robert Sengstacke Abbott, founder of the Chicago Defender Newspaper in 1905. His goal was to honor his hardworking newsboys and children in under-served communities, with the opportunity to showcase their talents. Two former newsboys that started out with Mr. Abbott were music legends, Lionel Hampton and Nat King Cole. His vision grew to become a major highly anticipated annual event with an impact across the nation and across generations; and
WHEREAS,; and it is from this tradition that many champions of history such as, Muhammad Ali, James Brown and President Barack Obama to name a few, have led the Bud Billiken® Parade to celebrate and inspire our youth, while providing opportunities for education, entrepreneurship and global awareness; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Defender Charities' iconic Bud Billiken Parade is a South Side tradition that celebrates the annual back -to-school season and importance of community pride with parade dancers, drill teams, dozens of marching bands and floats; and
WHEREAS, this year's theme is appropriately branded, "Back to School, Back to Work, Back to Life, and Back to Bud"; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Defender Charities sponsors the Bud Billiken Parade's Royal Court contest for outstanding young people, who are judged on scholarship and citizenship, and their submission of short essays; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Defender Charities' Scholarship Program, since its inception in 2003, has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships to over 300 students; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Defender Charities' is committed to connecting the community to opportunities, dedicated to education, health, wellness, business training and entrepreneurial development. The Charities' also strives to unite, empower, improve the quality of life, and enrich families and individuals in our communities; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members of the Chicago City Council, gathered together this 25th Day of July, 2018, do hereby salute the Chicago Defender Charities on the 89th Annual Bud Billiken Parade and Festival on Saturday, August 11, 2018; and
Pat Dowell Alderman, 3 rd Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the Chicago Defender Charities. *
