City of Philadelphia - File #: 070099

• File #: 070099
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 2/15/2007
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 2/15/2007
• Title: Honoring Jim Ellis and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, "PDR", Swim Team.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember DiCicco, Council President Verna, Council President Verna, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Kelly, Councilmember Kelly, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Ramos, Councilmember Ramos, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Savage, Councilmember Savage

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
2/15/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
2/15/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
2/15/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
2/15/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
2/15/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass
2/15/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Honoring Jim Ellis and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation, "PDR", Swim Team.
Body
WHEREAS, The City Council of Philadelphia is pleased and proud to honor Mr. Jim Ellis for over forty years of civic and community service to the City of Philadelphia through his out standing work as a competitive swimming coach, mentor to youth and motivational speaker as well as the founding and development of the nationally recognized PDR Swim Team; and

WHEREAS, The soon to be released "Pride", is a Liongate film staring Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac and Kimberly Elise is based on the true events surrounding USA Swimming coach Jim Ellis and the PDR Swim Team. "Pride" tells the story of a swim coach and youth mentor who built a successful swimming program in North Philadelphia in the 1970's; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ellis founded PDR Swim Team based at the Marcus Foster Recreation Center in the Nicetown Section of Philadelphia in 1971; and

WHEREAS, Over the past thirty-five years Jim Ellis has been introducing competitive swimming to inner city youth and their families. His coaching has provided a healthy and stipulating environment in which young athletes can grow and compete; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ellis teaches the PDR swimmers more than how to compete in the water; he teaches them success through hard work, dedication to teamwork and other important life changing lessons that prepare them for a better future; and

WHEREAS, Today PDR Swim Team is the City's nationally recognized competitive swim team, has sent numerous swimmers to the US Olympic team trials, is the nation's best predominately African American team and has become a model for urban swim programs around the country; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia, no doubt, greatly and knowingly privileged to hold within its borders the bright and enduring light of this vibrant leader, groundbreaker, public servant and devotee to youth and athletics; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE ...