ADOPTED - MARCH 25, 2008

Agenda Item No. 4

Introduced by the County Services Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING TONY BENAVIDES ON RECEIVING

THE 2008 DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD

RESOLUTION #08-073

WHEREAS, the Chief Okemos Council of the Boy Scouts of America established the Distinguished Citizen Award in 1977 to honor outstanding individuals who serve the Greater Lansing area and have dedicated themselves to their professions, the community and the support of youth programs; and

WHEREAS, Tony Benavides, former Mayor of the City of Lansing, is a recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Citizen Award; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, Tony Benavides, President of the Lansing City Council, began serving as Mayor of the City of Lansing, after then-Mayor David Hollister joined Governor Granholm’s administration, in November of that year he was elected to complete the remainder of  Mayor Hollister’s term; and

WHEREAS, Tony served 23 years as 3rd Ward Councilperson for the City of Lansing, and for more then 3 decades served as Executive Director of Cristo Rey Community Center – one of Lansing’s largest human service organizations – where he implemented programs that served countless children, youth, families, and senior citizens, helped establish much-needed medical and mental health clinics that continue to serve low income and immigrant families, and initiated one of the most successful employment and training programs in Lansing's history; and

WHEREAS, he has received many awards over the years but the one that highlights his work in the service of others is the "Doctor Albert Wheeler Seeker of Justice Award," presented to him by Bishop Kenneth Povish of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing in 1993.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby congratulates Tony Benavides on receiving the 2008 Distinguished Citizen Award from the Chief Okemos Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board appreciates the contributions he has made to the community and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors.

COUNTY SERVICES:  Yeas:  Nolan, De Leon, Copedge, Soule, Grebner, Severino

Nays:  None          Absent:  None        Approved 3/18/08