Bill Text: NY J00696 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Honoring Edward Lewis upon the occasion of his designation as Honorary Chair by UNCF at its A MIND IS Gala on March 21, 2019

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-19 - ADOPTED [J00696 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00696-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 696

BY: Senator PARKER

        HONORING  Edward  Lewis  upon  the occasion of his
        designation as Honorary Chair by UNCF at its "A MIND
        IS..."  Gala on March 21, 2019

  WHEREAS, From time to time  this  Legislative  Body  takes  note  of
certain  extraordinary  individuals  it  wishes  to  recognize for their
valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Edward Lewis
upon the occasion of his designation as Honorary Chair by UNCF at its "A
MIND IS..." Gala on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at  The  Lighthouse,  Pier
61, New York City; and

  WHEREAS,  Born on May 15, 1940, in the Bronx, New York, Edward Lewis
grew up impoverished in the projects of the South Bronx, a  neighborhood
plagued  at  the  time by drug addiction and violence; nevertheless, his
parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and desire to succeed; and

  WHEREAS, Edward Lewis attended De Witt Clinton High School, where he
excelled academically and was a star fullback on the football  team;  he
went  on  to  earn  a  bachelor's  degree  in political science from the
University of New Mexico in 1964; and

  WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his studies, Edward Lewis  landed  a
job as a financial analyst at First National City Bank in New York City;
he  was  steadily  rising  through the ranks when in 1968, he attended a
conference on blacks in the business world  and  left  with  a  newfound
determination to start his own uniquely black business; and

  WHEREAS, One year later, Edward Lewis co-founded Essence magazine, a
magazine specifically targeted to black women; and

  WHEREAS,  The  first  issue of Essence was published in May of 1970,
with a modest print run of 50,000 copies; since then, the  magazine  has
grown  into  what  the  New  York Times calls the "pre-eminent voice for
black women," with a readership of more than 7.5 million; and

  WHEREAS, Propelled by the extraordinary success of  Essence,  Edward
Lewis  expanded  Essence  Communications  to include a weekly television
show, fashion line and mail order catalogue, as well as an annual awards
show and music festival; in addition,  he  founded  Latina  magazine,  a
bilingual publication geared toward Hispanic women in 1995; and

  WHEREAS,  Overcoming  much adversity, Edward Lewis has become one of
the most successful and respected magazine publishers  in  the  country;
and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are  brought  to  our
attention,  they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it


  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Edward Lewis upon the occasion  of  his  designation  as  Honorary
Chair  by  UNCF  at its "A MIND IS..." Gala on March 21, 2019; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Edward Lewis.