LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Fortune Society upon the occasion
of celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Fortune Academy on June 18,
2012

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 Fortune Society upon the occasion of celebrating the 10th Anniver-
sary of the Fortune Academy, to be celebrated on Monday, June 18, 2012;
and
WHEREAS, The Fortune Society is a nonprofit social service and advoca-
cy organization, founded in 1967, whose mission is to support successful
reentry from prison and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus
strengthening the fabric of our communities; and
WHEREAS, In April of 2002, after six years of strategic planning and
development, the Fortune Society opened the doors to the Fortune Acade-
my, a residential housing facility located in West Harlem; and
WHEREAS, Nicknamed "The Castle" for its Gothic architecture and promi-
nent site along the riverfront, the Fortune Academy provides 62 beds in
single and shared occupancy units for formerly incarcerated individuals
who are homeless; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-one of the beds are allocated for emergency housing
and the remaining 41 represent longer-term, phased permanent housing,
where residents stay up to a year or longer, depending on their individ-
ual needs; and
WHEREAS, The Academy also boasts an industrial kitchen that provides
residents with daily nutritious meals, a computer lab, a laundry room
and a community space where residents can rest, relax and interact with
each other in a drug-free environment; and
WHEREAS, Like the Fortune Society itself, the Fortune Academy is
unique in that it provides a broad array of services under one roof,
with staff members on hand 24 hours a day to help residents address the
multiple problems that confront them; and
WHEREAS, In addition, every resident is required to participate in
productive activities at Fortune's Long Island City offices, such as
education, career development and counseling, to assist them in their
successful transition back to the community; and
WHEREAS, Since 2002, Fortune Academy has provided housing for over 700
formerly incarcerated people who were homeless; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Fortune Society upon the occasion of celebrating the 10th
Anniversary of the Fortune Academy on June 18, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Fortune Society.