Senate Resolution No. 3262 BY: Senator BRESLIN COMMENDING Richard McGrath upon the occasion of his selection to represent the Capital Region in the national Jefferson Awards competition in a virtual event to be conducted in September of 2020 WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to recognize and acknowledge outstanding individuals within our midst who have made significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and WHEREAS, A great community is only as great as those persons and organizations that provide exemplary service, whether through participation in voluntary programs or simply through a lifetime of good citizenship; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Richard McGrath upon the occasion of his selection to represent the Capital Region in the national Jefferson Awards competition in a virtual event to be conducted in September of 2020; and WHEREAS, The Jefferson Awards are a prestigious national recognition program which honors community and public service throughout the United States; and WHEREAS, In 1972, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, United States Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard, Chairman of the National Development Council, founded the American Institute for Public Service to establish a "Nobel Prize" for public and community service on both the national and local level, the Jefferson Awards; and WHEREAS, The Jefferson Awards, whose stated mission is "to recognize, inspire and activate volunteerism and public service in communities, workplaces and schools across America," serve as a "Call to Action for Volunteers"; and WHEREAS, On the local level, Jefferson Awards recipients are ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward, while national award recipients represent a "Who's Who" of outstanding Americans; and WHEREAS, Richard McGrath of Delmar, New York, volunteers at the Albany Field Office of the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, where he aids refugees and immigrants by driving families to medical appointments, tutoring those trying to learn English, and giving driving lessons; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, this impressive man picks up donated furniture and other household goods which he transports to families in need; and WHEREAS, A man of sincere dedication, Richard McGrath is known to take out his banjo and entertain refugee families with their first-ever banjo concert, an event which produces big smiles on the faces of young and old alike; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend them for the edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Richard McGrath upon the occasion of his selection to represent the Capital Region in the national Jefferson Awards competition, noting his exemplary service to his community and extending to him heartfelt best wishes for a future of continued purposeful success and well-being; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Richard McGrath.