LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Maureen Orth upon the occasion of her
designation for special recognition by Buffalo for Africa

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Maureen Orth has given not only of her time and energies but
also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has
been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Maureen Orth
upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by Buffalo
for Africa, to be celebrated at its 2nd Annual Women's Conference on
Saturday, March 20, 2010; and
WHEREAS, The goal of the conference is to motivate leaders in the
community and to recognize the marvelous accomplishments of women in
Western New York; Maureen Orth, the widow of the late legendary poli-
tical journalist Tim Russert, will be a Keynote Speaker at the event;
and
WHEREAS, With her husband Tim growing up in Buffalo, Maureen Orth
continues to have many special relationships with the people and commu-
nities of Western New York; and
WHEREAS, A special correspondent for VANITY FAIR since 1993, Maureen
Orth started writing for the magazine in 1988; she has interviewed
Russian president Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher, among other heads of state; and
WHEREAS, Maureen Orth began her journalism career in 1973 as the third
female writer ever hired by NEWSWEEK, where she was the entertainment
and lifestyle editor, and where she wrote seven cover stories; she won a
National Magazine Award for Reporting for her article on Michael and
Arianna Huffington, which appeared in the November 1994 issue of VANITY
FAIR; and
WHEREAS, Maureen Orth is the Founder of the Marina Orth Foundation and
Escuela Marina Orth in Medellin, Colombia, where she began as a Peace
Corps volunteer in the 1960s; her school is currently the first public
bilingual school in Colombia and is the first One Laptop Per Child
School; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley,
Maureen Orth earned her Master's degree in Journalism and Documentary
Film from UCLA; and
WHEREAS, Maureen Orth has been called upon to contribute her time and
talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given
of herself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Maureen Orth has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout has been her son, Luke, who feels privi-
leged to be a part of her life and rejoices in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Maureen Orth has displayed through-
out her life; she is a true asset to society; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Maureen Orth upon the occasion of her designation for special
recognition by Buffalo for Africa; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Maureen Orth.