* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Holton
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Baltimore City Celebration of National Grandparents Day, September 9, 2007
FOR the purpose of recognizing National Grandparents Day in honor of the national treasure of grandparents and the unconditional love and guidance they give to our families and expressing appreciation for the millions of grandparents nationwide and the thousands of grandparents in Baltimore City who selflessly dedicate their autumn years to lovingly nurturing and raising their grandchildren who otherwise would not experience the joys and challenges of growing up in a forever family.
Body
Recitals
In 1978, the President signed a proclamation designating the first Sunday following Labor Day as National Grandparents Day, in honor of the nation's grandparents who "are our continuing tie to the near past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us. Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides our society a link to our national heritage and traditions."
It is a universally accepted fact that now, as well as in 1978, when Congress and the President adopted the holiday in their honor that "we all know grandparents whose values transcend passing fads and pressures, and who possess the wisdom of distilled pain and joy." However, society has changed. The statement that "because they are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them" applies to a shrinking number of grandparents because many are now assuming the role of main or sole care giver and provider for their grandchildren.
The Kinship Care Resource Center of Maryland, Coppin State University, reports that nationwide, at least 2.5 million kids are living with grandparents, and 1.5 million or more are living with other family members; some 2 million other children live in their grandparents' homes with their parents. The AARP Foundation (American Association of Retired Persons) reports that in Maryland there are 98,836 children living in grandparent-headed households, and of these, 54,323 are living there without either parent present.
On September 9, 2007, we give official thanks for the gift of grandparents and pay special tribute to the wonderful people who have "stepped up to the plate" to care for the children whose parents are struggling with substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration, economic hardship, divorce, domestic violence, and other challenges. To the 50,974 care giver grandparents in Maryland and especially to the 13,707 care giver grandparents who live in Baltimore City:
Thank you.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body recognizes National Grandparents Day in honor of the national treasure of grandparents and the unconditional love and guidance they give to our families and expresses appreciation for the millions of grandparents nationwide and the thousands of grandparents in Baltimore City who selflessly dedicate their autumn years to lovingly nurturing and raising their grandchildren who otherwise would not experience the joys and challenges of growing up in a forever family.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director, Kinship Care Resources Center, the Executive Director of the Commission on Aging and Retirement Education, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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