Fattah Receives High Honor From The National Urban League

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Jul 26, 2013, 07:00 ET

The Philadelphia Congressman is presented the President's Award.

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Co-Chair and founder of the Congressional Urban Caucus, is the recipient of this year's President's Award from the National Urban League (NUL) for his work in addressing the issues facing urban communities with his particular focus on improving the lives of urban youth.

The NUL also recognizes Fattah for his commitment to youth mentoring, education, jobs and brain research. Through the Fattah Neuroscience Initiative, federal research efforts have intensified in understanding the workings of the human brain. As the architect of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Fattah has helped secure almost $4 billion for the program that has served more than 12 million students in 49 states, the District of Columbia and three other territories including the 5,000 Philadelphia students who are currently enrolled.

"We are thrilled to recognize and honor Rep. Chaka Fattah with the National Urban League President's Award for his long-standing commitment to bringing jobs and economic empowerment to the undeserved," said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. "His sponsorship of the Urban Jobs Act is aligned with Urban League initiatives such as Jobs Rebuild America and is a clear demonstration of his commitment to our youth and, in particular, those who would otherwise have no path to economic independence and upward mobility. We look forward to working with Rep. Fattah moving forward and seeing this bill passed and implemented."

"I am honored to receive this award from Marc Morial and the National Urban League. Over the years, the Urban League has remained steadfast in its mission to enable African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. I look forward to our continued work together to formulate solutions to address the challenges faced by our youth and our cities."

This is the third national award recognizing Fattah's service to children and working families this year alone. In April he was honored by The Council on Undergraduate Research for his commitment to undergraduate research and in January Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has acknowledged him with their 2013 Leadership Award as a champion of mentoring.

Fattah will receive the President's Award at the Whitney M. Young Jr. Awards Gala on Saturday evening July 27, 2013 as the Urban League wraps up its 4-day annual conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

www.fattah.house.gov

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah