A senate RESOLUTION

to COMMEND THE GREENVILLE (SC) CHAPTER OF THE LINKS, INCORPORATED, FOR SEVENTY YEARS OF committed COMMUNITY SERVICE AND TO EXTEND BEST WISHES TO THIS FINE ORGANIZATION AS ITS MEMBERS CONTINUE TO SERVE.

Whereas, the Greenville (SC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, is a volunteer service organization of concerned, committed, and talented women, who, linked in friendship, enhance quality of life in the larger community, with a focus on enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the identities, culture, and economic survival of African Americans and persons of African descent; and

Whereas, the chapter was established on February 7, 1953, under the diligent leadership of Link Marie S. Huggins. Link Rose Huggins, a charter member of the Charleston (SC) Chapter, was the catalyst and helped motivate the group; and

Whereas, charter members of the chapter were Marie Huggins, president; Estelle Franklin, vice president; Mildred McClaren, corresponding secretary; Carrie Thompson, treasurer; and members Helen Anderson, Julia Cooper, Bertie Henry, Eugenia Hill, Hattie Smith, Beatrice Whitener, Edris Walker, and Harriet Williams; and

Whereas, throughout the chapter's seventy-year history, it has continued to sponsor and support many social and service-based endeavors for the community. Past programs include high school scholarships, the Just Say No to Drugs Program, LIVES (Links Investing in Values Enhancements for Students), Adopt-a-School, and childhood obesity. The Handicaps Helping Hands Program earned the chapter an award in Las Vegas in 1984. Through the years, members have embraced the following area and national initiatives: Just Say No to Drugs, anti-bullying, Classics Through the Ages, Picking Up STEAM, breast health and colon cancer awareness, Urban Girls Rock, Urban League of the Upstate Project Ready, voter registration drives and GOTV initiatives, mental health awareness, and annual health walk-a-thons; and

Whereas, the Greenville (SC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, continues to participate actively in all facets of services to youth, national trends, health and human services, international trends, and the arts, as well as HBCU initiatives and many other activities and programs that reach people in the communities its members serve; and

Whereas, the Greenville (SC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, has sustained partnerships with SHARE, the American Heart Association, the Susan Komen Race for the Cure, Meals on Wheels, Nicholtown Community Center, Urban League of the Upstate, Microsoft, Hughes Middle School, Bon Secours St. Francis Health Systems, and Greenville County Community Centers; and

Whereas, grateful for the dedicated service of the Greenville (SC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, the Senate takes great pleasure in saluting its members on the occasion of the organization's seventieth anniversary. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, commend the Greenville (SC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, for seventy years of committed community service and extend best wishes to this fine organization as its members continue to serve.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Greenville (SC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated.

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