HR1209 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1209 LRB097 22642 MST 71423 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Stella Foster on being awarded the 2012 Circle of Friends Award at the 18th Annual Friends of Chicago State University Award Dinner "Women in the Business of Transforming Lives" on September 20, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Stella Foster is a long-time columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times; her column "Stella's Column" debuted in the Sun-Times on December 2, 2003, and has become one of the most popular columns in the newspaper; she has enjoyed a career as a writer, broadcaster, and as the long-time assistant to the late Irv Kupcinet; and

WHEREAS, Stella Foster's column is an eclectic mix of news, entertainment, politics, the arts, gossip, and birthday wishes; she publicizes charitable events such as those close to her heart like child abuse, teenage pregnancy, and women's issues; she is proactive on issues and speaks out on subjects such as black on black crime and senseless violence; and

WHEREAS, Stella Foster was born and raised in the Englewood community; she attended Chicago public schools and then began pursuing a professional career in August of 1969 as the new secretary for Irv Kupcinet; and

WHEREAS, Stella Foster was Irv Kupcinet's assistant for 34 years; her writing career began in the mid 1980's when she began penning the column "Starlights by Stella" for the national entertainment magazine, Sister 2 Sister; she later sounded off on a wide range of topics with her column "Oh Boy! Ain't She Opinionated"; and

WHEREAS, Stella Foster has been profiled in Chicago Magazine, Today's Chicago Woman, N'Digo Magapaper, Rolling Out, and the Chicago Defender; she is the recipient of numerous awards including the Promises Fulfilled Award from South Central Community Services, a communications award from the 100 Black Men of Chicago, the Chicago Journalists Association's Lifetime Achievement Award, the Chicago Latino Network's Platinum Communications Award, the A. Phillip Randolph Pullman Porter Gentle Warrior Award, the National Association of Black Journalists' Distinguished Service Award, the Rainbow PUSH Media Trailblazer Award, the Archibald Motley Excellence in Arts Award from the Englewood Committee, Mt. Sinai's Parenting Institute's African Village Award (which she shared with her family), the Torch for Journalism from Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, the Making A Difference Award from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition as a Woman of Distinction, the State of Illinois African American Media Award from the Secretary of State's Office, the African-American History Service Award from Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church, the Joint Civic Committee of Italian American's coveted Dante Media Award, and the Shero Award for Career Achievement from NABFEME; and

WHEREAS, Stella Foster has been saluted by the Midwest Radio and Music Association, hailed as a "Phenomenal Woman" by the Expo for Today's Black Woman, and named one of the 100 Woman Making a Difference by Today's Chicago Woman Magazine; she received the Each One Teach One Literacy's Englewood Community Award for Excellence in Journalism and has earned awards from the Chicago Black Public Relations Society and from the National Council of Negro Women; she was also presented the Irv Kupcinet Media Giant Award, named in honor of her late mentor; she is a member of the Chicago Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Association of Women Journalists, the Press Club, and the Chicago Journalists Association; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Stella Foster on being presented with the 2012 Circle of Friends Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Stella Foster as an expression of our esteem and respect.