LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Angela Anton, Philip Levine, Jeff Bezos
and Amazon's Kindle Team upon the occasion of being designated as award
recipients at the Walt Whitman Champions of Literacy Gala on June 3,
2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals who have distinguished themselves
through their exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives
of service to their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Angela Anton, Philip Levine, Jeff Bezos and Amazon's Kindle Team upon
the occasion of being designated as award recipients at the Walt Whitman
Champions of Literacy Gala to be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at
Oheka Castle, Cold Spring Hills, New York; and
WHEREAS, This most auspicious occasion is hosted by the Walt Whitman
Birthplace Association, an organization that serves as Walt Whitman's
voice of today; and
WHEREAS, The Walt Whitman Birthplace Association is dedicated to cele-
brating the acclaimed poet's vision of democracy, diversity and creati-
vity; its programs and exhibits educate the public on Walt Whitman's
life and times, explores his contribution to our nation and state's rich
cultural heritage, and inspires young poets and writers; and
WHEREAS, The Walt Whitman Champions of Literacy Awards were estab-
lished to recognize the best supporters of literacy in America; Cham-
pions of Literacy are individuals or businesses who have demonstrated
outstanding leadership in promoting literacy; each year awards are given
in three categories: Enterprise, Individual Leader, and Literary Achiev-
er; and
WHEREAS, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon.com and TIME Magazine's Person
of the Year in 1999, and Amazon's Kindle Team are the recipients of the
2009 Enterprise Award; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, Amazon.com introduced the Kindle, a new portable
electronic reading device, which enables readers to purchase, download,
store and read complete books and documents; Jeff Bezos and Amazon's
Kindle Team have revolutionized the way the world buys and reads books;
and
WHEREAS, The Individual Leadership Award will be bestowed upon Angela
Anton, the Publisher and CEO of Long Island's Anton Community Newspa-
pers; and
WHEREAS, Based in Mineola, New York, Anton Community Newspapers
produces 18 weekly newspapers in Nassau County, as well as THE BOULEVARD
magazine and HEALTHY LIVING; it is one of the largest privately owned
newspaper companies in New York State; and
WHEREAS, This year's Literary Achiever is poet Philip Levine; a native
of Detroit, he is the author of 16 books of poetry, most recently
BREATH; and
WHEREAS, For his extraordinary work, Philip Levine has won a Pulitzer
Prize, a National Book Award, two National Book Critics Circle Awards,
the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize and the
first American Book Award for Poetry; in addition, he teaches at New
York University; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Angela Anton, Philip Levine, Jeff Bezos and Amazon's Kindle Team
upon the occasion of being designated as award recipients at the Walt
Whitman Champions of Literacy Gala on June 3, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Angela Anton, Philip Levine, Jeff Bezos and Amazon's Kindle
Team.