Title
To recognize and congratulate Michael W. Redd as an Olympic Gold Medal recipient at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games as well as the community service work performed by the Michael Redd Foundation.
Body
WHEREAS, Michael W. Redd was selected as a member of the United States Basketball team to compete as a guard in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games to represent the United States of America in Beijing, China; and
WHEREAS, as a member of Team USA, he was awarded an Olympic Gold Medal on the closing day of the 2008 Summer Olympics; and
WHEREAS, Michael was a 1997 Graduate of West Senior High School in the Columbus Public School District where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006; and
WHEREAS, as a member of The Ohio State University Buckeyes Basketball Team, Michael was selected as Most Valuable Player, awarded Big Ten Freshman of the Year as the first true freshman to lead the Big Ten in scoring (21.7 ppg), and was twice named Honorable Mention All-America in College Basketball. He ranked fifth in career points (1,879) among all Buckeyes; and
WHEREAS, Michael was selected as the 43rd pick in the 2000 NBA Draft to the Milwaukee Bucks where he has set an NBA record with eight three-pointers in one quarter as well as holding the Bucks franchise record for points in a single game with 57; and
WHEREAS, Redd was selected as one of five finalists for the 2008 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association, which honors an NBA player or coach for outstanding service and dedication to the community; and
WHEREAS, The Michael Redd Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Redd with a threefold purpose to: (1) promote the holistic development of all people, to (2) educate and develop youth and adults to succeed in life, and to (3) promote racial and denominational reconciliation; and
WHEREAS, The Michael Redd Foundation holds several events throughout the summer months in Columbus, Ohio, free of charge, to promote their cause to bring youth and families together of different races, ethnicities, cultures, classes and denominations with the an aim of helping children set attainable goals; and
WHEREAS, on July 18-19, 2008 the Michael Redd Foundation held the third annual Now or Never Community Event, a free program that combines basketball, music, fashion and life lessons with a spiritual overtone at Lifestyle Communities Pavilion in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, for the past six summers he has hosted the Michael Redd Basketball Camp in Columbus for Ohio-area youth to enhance their skills in the sport of basketball; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize and applaud Michael W. Redd for becoming a positive role model for young people not only through his athletic achievements, but especially through his community involvement and philanthropic efforts in the Columbus Community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we do hereby congratulate Michael W. Redd for achieving the honor of Olympic Gold Medal recipient at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.