Declare Siblings Day Statewide

April 10, 2018, as Siblings Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Siblings Day WHEREAS, Siblings Day Foundation is a public non-profit charity devoted to establishing Siblings Day for the benefit of our families, our communities and our Nation; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 10, 2018, as Siblings Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Siblings Day; and WHEREAS, Native New Yorker, and Manhattan resident Claudia Evart felt inspired to create the Siblings Day Foundation (SDF), a non-profit organization after losing both of her siblings early in life; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Claudia Evart, SDF founded National Siblings Day to honor our brother(s) and/or sister(s), to be celebrated annually on April 10, the birthday of her late sister, Lisette; and WHEREAS, Individuals can remember their siblings by sending a card or a gift, making a phone call, making a dinner invitation, performing a good deed, favor, errand or chore, and in cases of deceased siblings, consciously holding them in their memory; and WHEREAS, In the coming years, SDF intends to obtain a state proclamation in all 50 states; currently, 41 out of 50 states' governors have signed gubernatorial proclamations, and three proclamations are pending; and WHEREAS, In addition, SDF plans to compile a National Directory of Sibling Support Groups or Organizations in the United States, identify the origin and use of the word sibling, identify other countries that have a Siblings Day established, present Annual Outstanding Brother and Sister Awards, continue to recognize the sibling bond with the development of future programs which enhance the sibling bond, locate corporate sponsorship to support Siblings Day Foundation, provide financial support to other sibling organizations and promote Siblings Day in cultural and educational institutions; and WHEREAS, Siblings Day follows the spirit of Mother's Day, Father's Day and Grandparent's Day, a great American tradition and celebration of family-unit values; it is an uplifting festivity honoring people who have shaped our values, beliefs and ideals; it is a relationship as important as a parent's relationship; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 10, 2018, as Siblings Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Siblings Day; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, and Claudia Evart, Founder, Siblings Day Foundation.