III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 117 

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Daughters of Penelope, a preeminent international women’s association and affiliate organization of 

the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA). 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 29, 2009 

Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Daughters of 

Penelope, a preeminent international women’s association 

and affiliate organization of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA). 

Whereas the Daughters of Penelope is a leading international 

organization of women of Hellenic descent and 

Philhellenes, founded November 16, 1929, in San Francisco, California, to improve the status and well-being of 

women and their families and to provide women the opportunity to make significant contributions to their community and country; 

Whereas the mission of the Daughters of Penelope is to promote the ideals of ancient Greece, philanthropy, education, civic responsibility, good citizenship, and family 


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•SRES 117 IS 

and individual excellence, through community service and 

volunteerism; 

Whereas the chapters of the Daughters of Penelope sponsor 

affordable and dignified housing to the Nation’s senior 

citizen population by participating in the Department of 

Housing and Urban Development’s section 202 housing 

program (12 U.S.C. 1701q); 

Whereas Penelope House, a domestic violence shelter for 

women and their children sponsored by the Daughters of 

Penelope, is the first of its kind in the State of Alabama 

and is recognized as a model shelter for others to emulate 

throughout the United States; 

Whereas the Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc. supports the educational objectives of the Daughters of Penelope by providing tens of thousands of dollars annually 

for scholarships, sponsoring educational seminars, and 

donating children’s books to libraries, schools, shelters, 

and churches through the ‘‘Open Books’’ program; 

Whereas the Daughters of Penelope is the first ethnic organization to submit oral history tapes to the Library of Congress, providing an oral history of first generation GreekAmerican women in the United States; 

Whereas the Daughters of Penelope promotes awareness of 

cancer research, such as thalassemia (Cooley’s anemia), 

lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), Alzheimer’s disease, 

muscular dystrophy, and others; 

Whereas the Daughters of Penelope provides financial support for many medical research and charitable organizations such as the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (formerly the Papanicolaou 

Cancer Center), the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 


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•SRES 117 IS 

the American Heart Association, the Special Olympics, 

the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, the 

Children’s Wish Foundation International, the United 

Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Habitat for Humanity, St. Basil Academy, and others; and 

Whereas the Daughters of Penelope provides support and financial assistance to victims and communities affected by 

natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and 

forest fires: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the significant contributions of 

3 people of Greek ancestry, and of Philhellenes, to the 

4 United States; and 

5 (2) commemorates the 80th anniversary of the 

6 Daughters of Penelope in 2009, applauds its mis7 sion, and commends the many charitable contribu8 tions of its members to organizations and commu9 nities around the world. 

Æ 


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