LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Grace Church Community Center upon
the occasion of celebrating its 30th Anniversary on May 14, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Grace Church Community Center upon the occasion of celebrating its
30th Anniversary on Thursday, May 14, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Grace Church Community Center (GCCC) is a non-sectarian,
community-based organization whose mission is to assist Westchester
County's neediest and most at-risk residents, especially those who are
under-served by other resources; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, parishioners of Grace Church in White
Plains, New York, recognized that many of their neighbors were in need
of food, and they began to provide soup and sandwiches for members of
the local community from their Parish Hall; and
WHEREAS, Later, they expanded this outreach to include day care and
summer camp for low-income neighborhood families and an emergency shel-
ter; by 1979, these programs had expanded so substantially that it
became advisable to incorporate Grace Church Community Center as an
independent 501 (c) (3) organization with permanent staff, its own
governing structure and an independent Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, Today, GCCC is one of the largest social services agencies in
Westchester County and has been providing shelter and support for indi-
viduals and families for 30 years; and
WHEREAS, This extraordinary agency operates many critical community
programs; its services for the homeless and the hungry include: a Soup
Kitchen; an Open Arms shelter for homeless men; a Samaritan House shel-
ter for homeless women; Project Trust, a new daytime shelter for the
chronically homeless; and Housing Services which help to prevent home-
lessness and eviction; and
WHEREAS, The GCCC's services for Children and Youth encompass a Summer
Day Camp for homeless and disadvantaged children; a Year-round Mentoring
Program for homeless and disadvantaged children, as well as a Day Care
for low-income families; services offered to the Elderly and Disabled
include the Neighbors Program, home healthcare for the elderly and home-
bound and Rainbow, which provides drop-in services for developmentally
disabled adults; and
WHEREAS, Without GCCC's essential programs, many individuals in the
community would lack the most basic of necessities and others would have
to sacrifice their ability to maintain their housing or well-being; and
WHEREAS, The agency has distinguished itself by directly providing
services, as well as by coordinating programs with other agencies,
making it possible for individuals to receive comprehensive support and
direction; its total-casework-management approach to individuals and
families with multiple problems has earned GCCC a well-deserved reputa-
tion as a service leader; and
WHEREAS, The success enjoyed by GCCC is in direct correlation to the
efforts of the many individuals and volunteers who have supported the
development of the center over the years; and
WHEREAS, Equally commendable are GCCC's superbly-skilled staff, whose
involvement is and has always been characterized by an impressive
commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of

excellence in all of their efforts on behalf of the Center and the popu-
lation it serves; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those organiza-
tions which enhance the well-being and vitality of its community and
have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have
earned our recognition and applause; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Grace Church Community Center upon the occasion of celebrat-
ing its 30th Anniversary on May 14, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Grace Church Community Center.