Body
WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 80% of the 12 million single parent families were headed by single mothers in 2014; and
WHEREAS, one in four children under the age of 18-- about 17.4 million kids-- are being raised without a father, and nearly half live below the poverty line; and
WHEREAS, the Bartko Foundation, founded by sisters Sisters Michele Bartko Bossers and Nedra Bartko Perkins, is a non-profit organization with the mission of helping single minority mothers achieve self-sufficiency, providing small grants to fulfill fundamental needs in the areas of education, transportation, housing, and employment; and
WHEREAS, the Bartko Foundation uniquely partners with other agencies to provide services that would normally fall through the cracks; and
WHEREAS, the Bartko Foundation has provided essential gap funding to help mothers purchase homes for their families, transportation to get to work and school, and simple tools we take for granted, like computers, uniforms, and even work boots; and
WHEREAS, the Bartko Foundation hosts the Irene's Dream Luncheon & Boutique Shopping event every year to raise funds for these essential grants; and
WHEREAS, this year's Irene's Dream Luncheon & Boutique Shopping event will be held on Saturday, April 18th, 2015, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Fairmont Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, the boutique shopping event will be open to the public, and will feature a collection of unique jewelry, accessories, home goods, and more provided by the best women-owned businesses in the region.
Title
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby honor the critical work done by the Bartko Foundation, as well as the achievements of Bartko Foundation grant recipients; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Saturday, April 18th, 2015 Bartko Foundation Irene's Dream Day in the City of Pittsburgh.
...
Click here for full text