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WHEREAS, the Steeltown Entertainment Project connects entertainment professionals with Southwestern Pennsylvania ties to projects, people and partnerships in order to support and invest in the socially and commercially significant film and media industry of the Pittsburgh region; and,
WHEREAS, Pittsburgher, Ellen Weiss Kander, previously a Wall Street lawyer educated at George Washington University and Boston University Law School, returned to her home town to enter the family business, Weisshouse, and ultimately co-founded Steeltown Entertainment with screenwriter Carl Kurlander and writer/producer Maxine Lapidus as a way to tap into the talent and expertise of entertainment industry leaders who have strong ties to SW PA and to help mentor young aspiring filmmakers; and,
WHEREAS, supported by a strong Board of Directors, Steeltown Entertainment has been hugely successful in establishing working relationships with local resources, educating the workforce, and nurturing emerging talent. To that end, Steeltown Entertainment presents the Steeltown Film Factory, a yearlong filmmaking competition designed to engage aspiring filmmakers to create projects with Pittsburgh inspired content. This year's competition has 12 finalists and will feature the Ellen Weiss Kander Award to honor Ellen's tireless work as Steeltown's co-founder and founding Executive Director; and,
WHEREAS, Ellen Weiss Kander's extraordinary efforts to create jobs and mentor talent in the region has turned Pittsburgh into a player in the entertainment industry. Balancing this work with the founding and running of a business called Cancer Be Glammed with partner Lisa Lurie, Ellen is the devoted wife of husband, Gregg and the mother 3 wonderful children, Ben, Jacob and Kate ; and,
WHEREAS, Ellen's quote, "Entertainment Could be Pittsburgh's New Steel" has driven the work of Steeltown Entertainment to become a world class catalyst for jobs, talent and product.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend Steeltown Entertainment for its contributions to the Pittsburgh region and congratulates them for honoring Ellen Weiss Kander with an award in her name;and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Saturday, May 12, 2012, to be "ELLEN WEISS KANDER DAY" in the City of Pittsburgh.