[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 117 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 117

  Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Daughters of Penelope, a 
preeminent international women's association and affiliate organization 
 of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA).


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 29, 2009

   Ms. Snowe (for herself and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Daughters of Penelope, a 
preeminent international women's association and affiliate organization 
 of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA).

Whereas the Daughters of Penelope is a leading international organization of 
        women of Hellenic descent and Philhellenes, founded November 16, 1929, 
        in San Francisco, California, to improve the status and well-being of 
        women and their families and to provide women the opportunity to make 
        significant contributions to their community and country;
Whereas the mission of the Daughters of Penelope is to promote the ideals of 
        ancient Greece, philanthropy, education, civic responsibility, good 
        citizenship, and family and individual excellence, through community 
        service and volunteerism;
Whereas the chapters of the Daughters of Penelope sponsor affordable and 
        dignified housing to the Nation's senior citizen population by 
        participating in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's 
        section 202 housing program (12 U.S.C. 1701q);
Whereas Penelope House, a domestic violence shelter for women and their children 
        sponsored by the Daughters of Penelope, is the first of its kind in the 
        State of Alabama and is recognized as a model shelter for others to 
        emulate throughout the United States;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc. supports the educational 
        objectives of the Daughters of Penelope by providing tens of thousands 
        of dollars annually for scholarships, sponsoring educational seminars, 
        and donating children's books to libraries, schools, shelters, and 
        churches through the ``Open Books'' program;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope is the first ethnic organization to submit 
        oral history tapes to the Library of Congress, providing an oral history 
        of first generation Greek-American women in the United States;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope promotes awareness of cancer research, such as 
        thalassemia (Cooley's anemia), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), 
        Alzheimer's disease, muscular dystrophy, and others;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope provides financial support for many medical 
        research and charitable organizations such as the University of Miami 
        Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (formerly the Papanicolaou Cancer 
        Center), the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, the American Heart 
        Association, the Special Olympics, the Barbara Bush Foundation for 
        Family Literacy, the Children's Wish Foundation International, the 
        United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Habitat for Humanity, St. Basil 
        Academy, and others; and
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope provides support and financial assistance to 
        victims and communities affected by natural disasters such as 
        hurricanes, earthquakes, and forest fires: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the significant contributions of people of 
        Greek ancestry, and of Philhellenes, to the United States; and
            (2) commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Daughters of 
        Penelope in 2009, applauds its mission, and commends the many 
        charitable contributions of its members to organizations and 
        communities around the world.
                                 <all>