HomeMy WebLinkAboutDorothy Williams Day - June 20, 2022 - SealedC i (V 0 r0AWJ.I I
Procthmation
WHEREAS Dorothy Williams, President ofPomaika`i Senior Centerfor the past
30+years, has been a cherished resident ofHawai`i since 1975 afterfalling in love with
the island on her honeymoon. Born on April 23, 1926, in the snowy suburbs of Chicago,
she has dedicated her time and talents to making our island community a better, more
joyful, and more exciting,place to live; and
WHEREAS Dorothy spentfour decades as theface behind the identity of Yummy
the Clown, the singing, dancing, multilingual persona who would turn cartwheels and
stand on her head to make a local child's birthday special, singing "Happy Birthday" in
six languages, so that every childfelt included; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, at a particularly memorable Elderly Recreation Services
annual talent show, Williams decided to tap into her show business background and
make a splash with a new sort of numberfor the seniors: a burlesque strip tease! She
became an instant internet sensation and, at age 90, landed a spot on "America's Got
Talent", where she catapulted to stardom andput Hilo on the Map; and
WHEREAS Dorothy has been volunteering in Hawai`i, whether through the
Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, Welcome Wagon, or being Yummy the Clown,for over
forty years, and in 2001 Dorothy was the recipient of the Office ofAging's Outstanding
Older American Award for her years of dedicated service. She was also awarded the
Aloha Exchange Club ofEast Hawai`i-Book of Golden Deeds Award in 2019; and
WHEREAS, today, at 96 years young, Dorothy, the former "America's Got
Talent" star, retired clown sensation and decorated community servant, continues to do
what she loves, and that is being ofservice.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MITCHELL D. ROTH, Mayor ofthe County ofHawai`i,
do hereby proclaim June 20, 2022, as
DOROTHY WILLIAMS DAY
in the County ofHawai`i and urge all citizens to join with me in surrounding Dorothy
Williams in a lei ofAloha and deep gratitude for her confidant, can-do spirit, inspiring
each ofus to pursue our wildest dreams, no matter what, and reminding us to always give
back to our community.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused The Seal of
the County ofHawai`i to be affixed. Done this 20th day ofJune 2022, in Hilo, Hawai`i.
Ralf-.
1 `\
MITCHELL D. ROTH
s',4z, = MAYOR
J