Title
Declaring May 30, 2014 Gary Ales and Jean Allan Ales Day in Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, Gary Ales and Jean Allan Ales founded Friendship Club at Johnson High School 50 years ago in 1964; Friendship Club was designed as a service group that brought together all ages, races, faiths, abilities, and schools in order to bridge any differences with a goal of serving the greater community; and
WHEREAS, since its inception, Gary and Jean have donated over 75,000 hours serving the Saint Paul Public Schools and greater Saint Paul community, with Friendship Club serving over 320,000 people and donating over $375,000 worth of work time in service with a volunteer base of over 15,000 volunteers; and
WHEREAS, Gary and Jean Ales brought the Friendship Club to Humboldt High School on the City's West Side in 1987 when Gary became the Guidance Counselor for Humboldt Junior and Senior High Schools; and where Friendship Club continues today; and
WHEREAS, as good as all these numbers are, no numbers can measure the amount of good that Gary and Jean have done for their community, including the young people they have positively influenced over their fifty years of demonstrating selfless and giving natures; and
WHEREAS, even after Gary's retirement from the Saint Paul Public Schools in 2002, he answered his students' call to stay on to continue to lead the Friendship Club (which he continues to do as a volunteer) as well as continuing his volunteer involvement as coach for the Boys' Tennis Team; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council declares Friday, May 30, 2014 as Gary Ales and Jean Allan Ales Day in the City of Saint Paul.