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WHEREAS, the Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF) was established in 1999 to serve as an advocate for the homeless children and youth of Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh, and to support the educational needs of 3,000 children experiencing homelessness with access to free, high quality, educational programs; and,
WHEREAS, the HCEF manages Learning Centers and Educational programs for 27 shelters throughout the city and county, working to provide children experiencing homelessness with a comfortable and safe environment in which to learn and express their creativity; and,
WHEREAS, the HCEF’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP) provides educational resources, tutors and mentors to unstably housed teenagers in four Pittsburgh high schools, and,
WHEREAS, in 2017 the HCEF presented $2,500 Hope through Learning Awards to eight Pittsburgh high school graduates, who had experienced homelessness, and,
WHEREAS, the HCEF’s “mini-grant” program has provided homeless sheltering organizations with the opportunity to sponsor educational enrichment events and field trips for the children in their care - creating opportunities for active learning, stress reduction, and family bonding; and,
WHEREAS, in order to focus the attention of the Pittsburgh region on the amazing work of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund and to bring to the forefront the serious issues that the HCEF works tirelessly to solve, the week of October 15th to October 21st, 2017 has been designated Homeless Children’s Awareness Week; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh local events of Homeless Children’s Awareness Week, will include numerous community events such as a Trivia Night, a Mingle at the Carnegie Museum, a Happy Hour at City Works, and presentations of the HCEF Stand Up for Homeless Children performance art installations at Duquesne University, Mellon Park downtown, Carnegie Museum, and Carlow University Day School; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh commends and celebrates the efforts of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund and joins them in commemorating Homeless Children’s Awareness Week; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare the week of October 15th to the 21st, 2017 to be “Homeless Children’s Awareness Week” in the City of Pittsburgh.