CONGRATS-BUDDY BEAR WAY

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0699

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HR0699 - 104th General Assembly

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HR0699
LRB104 20975 RMO 34837 r
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

2

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3
Representatives are pleased to congratulate the DeGeratto
4
family and Buddy Bear Car Wash on the City of Chicago
5
designating "Buddy Bear Way" as an honorary street name at
6
5400 West Chicago Avenue at Lotus Avenue, the original site of
7
the first Buddy Bear Food Center; and

8

WHEREAS, The honorary designation recognizes the enduring
9
legacy of Phillip "Papa Bear" DeGeratto and Phillip "Buddy
10
Bear" DeGeratto, whose lives and work exemplified dedication
11
to family, faith, entrepreneurship, and community service on
12
Chicago's West Side; and

13

WHEREAS, The DeGeratto family has lived and worked on
14
Chicago's West Side for nearly a century, serving as lifelong
15
residents, business owners, and community leaders whose
16
commitment has strengthened neighborhoods and uplifted
17
generations of residents; and

18

WHEREAS, Phillip "Papa Bear" DeGeratto and Phillip "Buddy
19
Bear" DeGeratto founded and operated Big Bear Foods, Buddy
20
Bear Finer Foods, and Buddy Bear Car Wash, businesses that
21
became anchors in their communities and models of locally
22
rooted entrepreneurship; and

HR0699
- 2 -
LRB104 20975 RMO 34837 r
1

WHEREAS, Through nearly 70 years of community engagement,
2
the DeGeratto family has created jobs, supported local hiring
3
initiatives, and advocated for food security, public safety,
4
youth employment, and reentry employment opportunities for
5
returning citizens; and

6

WHEREAS, The DeGeratto family's businesses and family
7
foundation have sponsored schools, youth programs, community
8
events, and neighborhood initiatives, and thousands of
9
residents have benefited from their employment opportunities,
10
mentorship, and generosity; and

11

WHEREAS, The DeGeratto family has been honored over the
12
years by local alderpersons, school councils, and neighborhood
13
organizations in recognition of their sustained civic
14
involvement and charitable contributions; and

15

WHEREAS, The proposed installation of the honorary street
16
sign at or near 5400 West Chicago Avenue at Lotus Avenue,
17
marking the location of the first Buddy Bear Food Center,
18
ensures that this multigenerational legacy will be permanently
19
recognized in the very community it helped build; and

20

WHEREAS, This honorary designation was nominated and
21
sponsored by Alderwoman Emma Mitts, who worked alongside the

HR0699
- 3 -
LRB104 20975 RMO 34837 r
1
DeGeratto family in professional and community capacities for
2
more than 20 years and witnessed firsthand their unwavering
3
commitment to Chicago's West Side; therefore, be it

4

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
5
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
6
we honor the memory and legacy of Phillip "Papa Bear"
7
DeGeratto and Phillip "Buddy Bear" DeGeratto and commend Buddy
8
Bear Car Wash and the DeGeratto family for their extraordinary
9
and lasting contributions to the City of Chicago and the State
10
of Illinois; and be it further

11

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
12
presented to the DeGeratto family and to Buddy Bear Car Wash as
13
a symbol of our respect, admiration, and esteem.

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