Title
Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee 75th Anniversary of The Links, Incorporated.
Body
WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated was conceived when a small group of friends in 1946, led by co-founders Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Rosell Hawkins of Philadelphia, organized a service-oriented women’s club. Today, their visionary actions have expanded from a modest group of nine women to a membership of more than 16,000 women of African descent in 292 Chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom; and
WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry; and
WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated’s Core Values are Friendship, Integrity, Honesty, Service, Commitment, Family Relationships, Courage, Respect for Self and Others, Legacy, Confidentiality, Responsibility, and Accountability; and
WHEREAS, The members of The Links, Incorporated are influential decision makers and opinion leaders. The Links, Incorporated has attracted many distinguished women who are individual achievers and have made a difference in their communities and the world. They are business and civic leaders, role models, mentors, activists, and volunteers who work toward a common vision by engaging like-minded organizations and individuals for partnership; and
WHEREAS, Links members contribute more than 1 million documented hours of community service annually - strengthening their communities and enhancing the nation. The organization is the recipient of awards from the UN Association of New York and the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation for its premier programs. In 2019, The Links, Incorporated was nominated for a Luxembourg Peace Prize by the Schengen Peace Foundation and recognized by the late Congressman John Lewis as a distinguished organization of outstanding community service and influence; and
WHEREAS, The outstanding programming of The Links, Incorporated has five facets which include Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. The programs are implemented through strategies such as public information and education, economic development, and public policy campaigns; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Chapter of The Links, Incorporated recognizes the importance and status of being the Founding Chapter and strives to maintain a level of excellence and commitment to the Philadelphia community that comes with that responsibility; and
WHEREAS, The legacy of the Philadelphia (PA) Chapter is the story of The Links, Incorporated. It is also the story of the Eastern Area. What began as the Philadelphia Club in 1946, was reborn as National Links in 1949 comprising of 13 additional clubs at that time. In 1954, when The Links decentralized into four geographic areas, the Philadelphia (PA) Chapter became the anchor for the Eastern Area. The Eastern Area is comprised of 80 chapters in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia, as well as in the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom; and
WHEREAS, There is also the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated, which is comprised of 82 chapters across seven states and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; the Central Area, comprised of 70 chapters in 15 states; and the Western Area, comprised of 60 chapters located in 10 states; and
WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated has a long tradition of promoting and engaging in educational, civic, and inter-cultural activities that enrich the lives of members of the Black community at large. The cornerstone of their service is their five programming facets - Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. Through these facets, they implement programs and initiatives that address the most critical needs of underserved communities. Annually, they impact the lives of more than 3 million people at home and abroad; and
WHEREAS, The members of The Links, Incorporated are influential decision makers and opinion leaders. The Links, Incorporated has attracted many distinguished women who are individual achievers and have made a difference in their communities and the world. They are business and civic leaders, role models, mentors, activists, and volunteers who work toward a common vision by engaging like-minded organizations and individuals for partnership; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby celebrates the Diamond Jubilee 75th Anniversary of The Links, Incorporated.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution shall be presented to The Links, Incorporated as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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