Senate Resolution No. 3267

BY: Senator BRESLIN

COMMENDING Jose Santiago upon the occasion of his
selection to represent the Capital Region in the
national Jefferson Awards competition in a virtual
event to be conducted in September of 2020

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge outstanding individuals within our midst who
have made significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, A great community is only as great as those persons and
organizations that provide exemplary service, whether through
participation in voluntary programs or simply through a lifetime of good
citizenship; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Jose
Santiago upon the occasion of his selection to represent the Capital
Region in the national Jefferson Awards competition in a virtual event
to be conducted in September of 2020; and

WHEREAS, The Jefferson Awards are a prestigious national recognition
program which honors community and public service throughout the United
States; and

WHEREAS, In 1972, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, United States Senator
Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard, Chairman of the National Development
Council, founded the American Institute for Public Service to establish
a "Nobel Prize" for public and community service on both the national
and local level, the Jefferson Awards; and

WHEREAS, The Jefferson Awards, whose stated mission is "to
recognize, inspire and activate volunteerism and public service in
communities, workplaces and schools across America," serve as a "Call to
Action for Volunteers"; and

WHEREAS, On the local level, Jefferson Awards recipients are
ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of
recognition or reward, while national award recipients represent a
"Who's Who" of outstanding Americans; and

WHEREAS, Jose Santiago of Colonie, New York, has taken on many
volunteer positions to help alleviate human suffering, exemplifying the
mission of the American Red Cross; he directly supports the Red Cross'
Operations Department by maintaining fleet and providing vital support;
and

WHEREAS, As a Disaster Response Team member, Jose Santiago also
provides boots on the ground support to families when fires, floods and
disasters hit; additionally, volunteering in the Home Fire Preparedness
campaign, he has installed smoke detectors in homes and provided fire
safety training, saving over 700 lives; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, Jose Santiago's welcoming demeanor and Spanish
language skills are impressive tools in diverse communities; and


WHEREAS, Jose Santiago was deployed 23 times to 13 different
disasters; he helped deliver food, supplies, and life support in
addition to aiding in over 4,000 hours of service with the Red Cross;
and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend them for the edification
and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Jose Santiago upon the occasion of his selection to represent
the Capital Region in the national Jefferson Awards competition, noting
his exemplary service to his community and extending to him heartfelt
best wishes for a future of continued purposeful success and well-being;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Jose Santiago.