LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of
America, Inc. upon the occasion of its 35th Annual Awards Luncheon on
April 7, 2012 and saluting Patrice Eleah Brown Thompson, recipient of
its 2012 Youth Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to act, in accord with
its long-standing traditions, to honor the achievements of its young
citizens and leaders of tomorrow, whose character and accomplishments
exemplify the ideals and values cherished by this great State and
nation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. upon the occasion of
its 35th Annual Awards Luncheon, to be held at the Fleur de Lis in
Ridgewood, Queens on Saturday, April 7, 2012, and to salute Patrice
Eleah Brown Thompson, recipient of its 2012 Youth Award; and
WHEREAS, Key Women of America, Inc. is a community service organiza-
tion founded in 1954 by the Reverend Bertha Nelms Harris, an ordained
minister who had a deep desire to address the needs of children in the
home, schools, institutions, and in conflict with the law; and
WHEREAS, She called on women leaders to join with her to address these
concerns; she called the women who joined with her "Key Women" and, what
began as a small group of women in Harlem, New York, grew into a larger
group and on December 23, 1966, they incorporated as Key Women of Ameri-
ca, Inc. and chose Investment in Children, Family Service, Community
Needs, and World Concerns as their mission; and
WHEREAS, With Manhattan as its founding and parent body, branches
began to be formed in other boroughs, including Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. was organ-
ized in 1972 under the leadership of Mrs. Lillian James; the officers
and members were and continue to be civic minded women who are dedicated
to Key Women's mission and, since its inception, it has undertaken a
variety of worthy causes; and
WHEREAS, Each year at its Annual Awards Luncheon, the Brooklyn Branch
of Key Women of America, Inc. proudly honors individuals who exemplify
those principles and values; Patrice Eleah Brown Thompson truly merits
such recognition; and
WHEREAS, Patrice Eleah Brown Thompson was born in Brooklyn, New York;
she has been a part of the Lutheran educational system since nursery
school and is currently a 7th grader at Epiphany Lutheran School in
Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, Her church home is Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, where she is
actively involved in the programs of the church, located in the Bedford
Stuyvesant area of the Borough of Brooklyn, where beautiful trees and
churches flourish and, her Afro-American history experience has been
shaped and strongly influenced by the Weeksville motto, "Save Memories
of Self"; and
WHEREAS, Patrice Eleah Brown Thompson has been involved in community
service projects with her family since birth and, following the floods
in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina and in Guyana, South America, she
actively helped send books and clothing to the stricken families of
these areas; and
WHEREAS, Also internationally, she helps send barrels of children's
clothing, books and toys to Guyana, South America for homeless children
and to a community center in the West Coast Berice area of the country,
the northern South America area where her maternal grandfather was born;

she, in addition, assists in fundraising activities for this region
through the Allied Organization of Guyana, USA; and
WHEREAS, Patrice Eleah Brown Thompson is an active member of Girl
Scout Troop 248 at the Epiphany Campus; she has earned many badges for
her service to her community, including several for her efforts on
behalf of the greening of the Prospect Lefferts Gardens area of Prospect
Park where she has lived most of her life and, she has served as an
Attendant for the Christian Debutante Ball sponsored by the Fenimore
Street United Methodist Church, where the Thompson family are outstand-
ing community leaders; and
WHEREAS, A talented dancer, singer and writer, Patrice Eleah Brown
Thompson is called upon by the community to participate in and perform
at a variety of functions in the tri-state area; she is part of the Mass
Choir and the step and leterigal dance groups at her school; she is also
a reader, a soloist, an academic leader in her school and has received
many awards for her service and excellence as an Epiphany Lutheran
School student for 12 years; and
WHEREAS, An outstanding role model for her classmates, Patrice Eleah
Brown Thompson has brought honor to her family, school, and community;
and
WHEREAS, Patrice Eleah Brown Thompson may stand with pride in her
achievements, experiencing the satisfaction of her labors and the joy of
her accomplishments, eager to face the challenge of new experiences as
she continues her education and begins her career; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. upon the occa-
sion of its 35th Annual Awards Luncheon on April 7, 2012 and to salute
Patrice Eleah Brown Thompson, recipient of its 2012 Youth Award; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. and to
Patrice Eleah Brown Thompson.