Senate Resolution 30

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS OF THE LINKS, INCORPORATED, AND WELCOMING THEM TO THE MISSISSIPPI STATE CAPITOL DURING THEIR "LINKS DAY AT THE CAPITOL" ACTIVITIES.

WHEREAS, "Links Day at the Capitol" will take place on Thursday, March 9, 2006, at the Mississippi State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, members of The Links, Incorporated, will convene from all around the State of Mississippi in support of the Healthy 2010 Measures and Closing the Health Gap in access and education; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of this effort is to increase the quality and years of healthy life and to eliminate the racial and ethnic disparities in health; and

WHEREAS, the focus of "Links Day at the Capitol" is to discuss the six focus areas in Healthy People 2010 that disproportionately impact the health of African-Americans; and

WHEREAS, this national initiative seeks to eliminate health disparities and establish national health objectives designed to identify the most significant preventable threats to health; and

WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated, a premier community service organization, will focus on the elimination of health disparities in the areas of infant mortality, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and immunizations; and

WHEREAS, in addition to focusing on health initiatives in the United States of America, The Links, Incorporated, has been very active in assisting to improve the quality of life of people around the world; and

WHEREAS, as active participants in the Maama Kit Campaign, Links chapters have purchased thousands of "Maama Kits" to help alleviate the problem of neonatal mortality; and

WHEREAS, during the 1980s Links chapters contributed financially towards the building of water wells throughout the African continent; and

WHEREAS, during the 1990s The Links sponsored The Uganda Tour of Light, and the making of quilts for children of AIDS victims in Ghana; and

WHEREAS, Links chapters have participated in other international programs such as the Refugee Resettlement, Rwanda, Liberia and Haiti and Rwanda School-In-A-Box through UNICEF; and

WHEREAS, under The Links' signature program "Education Across the Miles," chapters have donated approximately $400,000.00 towards the building of 31 schools in townships of South Africa and Nigeria; and

WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated, and its nonprofit arm, The Links Foundation, Incorporated, have long had a commitment to improving the lives and livelihoods of persons throughout the United States of America and the rest of the world:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do recognize the humanitarian efforts of The Links, Incorporated, and welcome them to the Mississippi State Capitol during their "Links Day at the Capitol" activities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be made available to The Links, Incorporated, chapters in the State of Mississippi, including Columbus-Lowndes, Vicksburg, Jackson, LeFleurs Bluff and Natchez, the national office and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.