A house RESOLUTION

 

to encourage all citizens to recognize and Honor Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for one hundred and nineteen years of contributions in its commitment of making our communities stronger and better and to declare April 14, 2026, as "Alpha Day at the State Capitol."

 

Whereas, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. the first intercollegiate Greek letter fraternity established for African American men, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, on December 4, 1906, by Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy. These men, known as the "Jewels," recognized the need for a strong bond of brotherhood among African descendants in the United States; and

 

Whereas, for one hundred nineteen years, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has been a beacon of light to the community by staying true to its aims of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind; and

 

Whereas, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., has a membership of more than seventy thousand college-educated men inducted into over seven hundred college and alumni chapters in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean; and

 

Whereas, this esteemed fraternity continues to live out its mission of developing leaders, promoting brotherhood and academic excellence, and providing service and advocacy for our communities by contributing more than 2.3 million dollars in educational scholarships and volunteering eight hundred fifty thousand community service hours; and

 

Whereas, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. counts many renowned citizens as members, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ambassador Andrew Young, W.E.B. Dubois, Dr. Louis Sullivan, and Actor Omari Hardwick. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, encourage all citizens to recognize and honor the contributions of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for one hundred nineteen years of contributions in its commitment of making our communities stronger and better, and declare April 14, 2026, as "Alpha Day at the State Capitol."

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

----XX----