THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WATERS, M. SMITH, READSHAW, MANN, MURT, CALTAGIRONE, BISHOP, D. COSTA, CURRY, DALEY, FRANKEL, KORTZ, GEORGE, HENNESSEY, MAHONEY, MYERS, PAYTON, ROEBUCK, SONNEY, VEREB AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 26, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 26, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring Kathy Sledge for her steadfast commitment to community

service through her active participation in organizations

seeking to improve the lives of children in this Commonwealth

and abroad.

WHEREAS, Kathy Sledge is a Philadelphia native, born the

youngest of five girls to parents Edwin and Florez Sledge; and

WHEREAS, At the young age of six, Ms. Sledge began singing

with her older sisters and continued to share her gift of song

as she became the lead vocalist of the musical group Sister

Sledge; and

WHEREAS, Sister Sledge recorded several international hits

that quickly soared to the number one spot on the UK charts and

other popular music charts, and the group also received the

coveted Silver Award at the Tokyo Music Festival; and

WHEREAS, Sister Sledge's most popular song was "We Are

Family," which earned a Grammy nomination and was later inducted

into the Grammy Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, "We Are Family," was voted the number two

biggest record of all time; and

WHEREAS, Whether performing with Sister Sledge or solo, Ms.

Sledge has a unique ability to draw people together making

everyone realize that "We Are Family"; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, Ms. Sledge founded the "Love Will Project";

and

WHEREAS, The "Love Will Project" films acts of altruism that

will restore, rebuild and renew lives around the world, bringing

celebrities together and assisting those in need; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Sledge believes love makes all the difference in

the education of children across our nation and around the

world; and

WHEREAS, The "Love Will Project" began in Elkins Park Middle

School in Elkins Park through Ms. Sledge's "What Family Means to

Me" program; and

WHEREAS, "What Family Means to Me" is a program encouraging

youth within our educational system to gain an appreciation of

the arts at an early age; and

WHEREAS, Later, the "Love Will Project" expanded its reach by

restoring the Cobbs Cross Primary School Library in Antigua, an

island in the West Indies; and

WHEREAS, As a result of her participation in the "Love Will

Project," Ms. Sledge was named Goodwill Ambassador for Antigua

and Barbuda; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Sledge is the honorary spokesperson for the

"1,000 Women for 1,000 Girls" mentorship campaign; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Sledge serves on the board of directors of the

We Are Family Foundation; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Ms. Sledge founded the "We Are Family

Day" as a day for students to celebrate their academic

achievements, build their spirits and discuss ways that they can

contribute to an environment where all students are successful;

and

WHEREAS, "We Are Family Day" was launched at Elkins Park

Middle School in Elkins Park; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Sledge received an honorary doctorate from the

Metropolitan College of New York for her outstanding musical

achievements; and

WHEREAS, In December 2011, Ms. Sledge received the David P.

Richardson, Jr., Nation Builder Award by the National Black

Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) in Chicago, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Giving unselfishly of her time and talents to

enhance the lives of children by improving their educational

experience, Ms. Sledge is assisting in creating a solid

foundation in children's lives, a solid foundation will lead to

developing our nation's next great leaders who are globally

engaged and culturally astute; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives congratulate

Kathy Sledge on her philanthropic endeavors assisting children

in this Commonwealth and those abroad by sharing the arts and

highlighting the importance of education.