LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the founders of Project Pay it Forward
upon the occasion of their designation as 2013 People of the Year by the
LONG BEACH HERALD, on December 26, 2013

WHEREAS, Individuals and organizations that serve the best interests of
their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and cannot be suffi-
ciently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Project Pay it Forward has truly served the best interests of
the people of the great State of New York and consequently has been
designated for special recognition; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the founders
of Project Pay it Forward upon the occasion of their designation as 2013
People of the Year by the LONG BEACH HERALD, on December 26, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Project Pay it Forward is a collaborative effort of Long
Beach, New York, business owners and residents aimed at helping local
businesses ravaged by 2012's Hurricane Sandy get rebuilt and off the
ground; and
WHEREAS, Project Pay it Forward helps one local business at a time by
determining what assistance that business needs to recover, whether it
be a fundraiser or just someone to help put up sheetrock in a gutted
space, and then organizing volunteers to help do the work, or hosting an
event to raise money; the effort's name is derived from the hope that,
once a business is restored, it will, in turn, "pay it forward" and help
the group with the next project; and
WHEREAS, Project Pay it Forward's founders are Jackie and Billy
Kupferman, of the Long Beach Surfer's Association, Sean Sullivan, owner
of Swingbellys restaurant, and his wife, Kelly Sullivan, Janet Slavin,
of the Janet Slavin law firm, Michelle Kelly, owner of Earth Arts, and
her husband, Tim Kelly; and
WHEREAS, This uplifting initiative came together when its founders
collaborated on a project during the holidays last year that involved
buying gift cards from local businesses and donating them to families in
need; and
WHEREAS, Officially launched in January 2013, Project Pay it Forward
has left an indelible mark on Long Beach, effectively mobilizing and
inspiring a community that had been left reeling after a disaster; and
WHEREAS, To date, the organization has raised significant funds and
has helped approximately 20 businesses and organizations across the
barrier island, ranging from surf shops to the Knights of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, The selfless spirit of Project Pay it Forward's founders is
all the more remarkable because they, too, were severely impacted by the
storm; Michelle and Tim Kelly are trying to rebuild their home and are
still displaced, and Sean Sullivan's business was destroyed; and
WHEREAS, The founders of Project Pay it Forward have given of them-
selves unstintingly to countless civic and charitable endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Billy Kupferman helps to organize a local Mustaches for Kids
fundraiser every year for Memorial Sloan Kettering's Pediatric Cancer
Care; during the 2013 holiday season, Michelle Kelly teamed up with
Kelly Sullivan and the Blue Bungalow's Patricia Daly to launch the Shop
Local, Shop Long Beach initiative; in addition, Kelly Sullivan is one of
the founders of Imagine Long Beach, an online initiative aimed at
improving the city by bringing in new businesses and venues; and
WHEREAS, Project Pay it Forward is an exemplary endeavor, embodying
the sense of cooperation and optimism that characterizes what is best in
communities across the great State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of their community service, a
period of constructive involvement, the founders of Project Pay it
Forward have stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others which the founders of Project Pay it Forward
have displayed throughout their lives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the founders of Project Pay it Forward upon the occasion of their
designation as 2013 People of the Year by the LONG BEACH HERALD; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Michelle and Tim Kelly, Jackie and Billy Kupferman, Janet
Slavin, and Sean and Kelly Sullivan, founders of Project Pay it Forward.