Denise Majette: “I rise today to honor S. Truett Cathy. Guided by his ability, dedication, and faith, Mr. Cathy took a small restaurant…”

“I rise today to honor S. Truett Cathy. Guided by his ability, dedication, and faith, Mr. Cathy took a small restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, and built Chik-Fil-A, Inc., the third largest fast food chicken restaurant in America, with more than 1,080 restaurants nationwide. This is in itself a great enterprise. Yet Mr. Cathy, through his success in business and exemplary community service, has come to serve as a paradigm of excellence. In 1984, Mr. Cathy founded the WinShape Center Foundation, designed to "shape winners" by helping young people succeed in life through scholarships and other youth-support programs. Like Mr. Cathy, the foundation he began is the epitome of responsible citizenry. The foundation annually joins Berry College in Rome, Georgia to award 20 to 30 students with $24,000 scholarships. In addition, through its Leadership Scholarship Program, the Chick-Fil-A chain has awarded more than $17.5 million in $1,000 scholarships to Chick-Fil-A restaurant employees since 1973. Chik-Fil-A's partnerships with the LPGA and college football's Peach Bowl have resulted in more than $1.25 million for WinShape homes and other charities in 2002 alone. Mr. Cathy's philanthropic endeavors extend to children as well. As part of his WinShape Homes program--a long-term care program for foster children--Mr. Cathy launched and operates 13 foster care homes in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Brazil.”