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WHEREAS, the Jefferson Awards were founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Presidential Aide Sam Beard and U. S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. to honor individuals for their achievements and contributions though public and community service ; and,
WHEREAS, the Jefferson Awards, named after Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, are now known as the “Nobel Prize for volunteerism” and are presented on the national and local level. In 1976, Pittsburgh Post Gazette Editor John Craig established a local program honoring Western Pennsylvania's “Community Champions” who are everyday citizens who encounter problems in their neighborhood and create solutions to fix them; and,
WHEREAS, Matt Hogue, Constituent Services Coordinator for Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus, was named one of the 50 Jefferson Award winners chosen from all those nominated. Matt's achievements were highlighted in the newspaper and honored at an elegant reception where they received their bronze Jefferson Award medallion, commissioned by the Franklin Mint; and,
WHEREAS, Matt received this prestigious honor for his work first with the West End-Elliot Citizens Council. At the age of 16, he became involved organizing residents because of his concerns for the problems and decline he was witnessing in Elliot. He further devotes his volunteer time to litter and trash cleanups, mostly done in his spare time with the Allegheny Cleanways dump site list in his pocket. Matt is passionate about giving back to the community in which he lives and participates in as many public works and public safety initiatives as he can; and,
WHEREAS, Matt Hogue's story is about creating a safer, cleaner community.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City if Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and honor our friend, Matt Hogue, for his remarkable commitment to the City of Pittsburgh and congratulates him for receiving the esteemed Jefferson Award for his efforts and dedication;...
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