A senate RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor Richard Sean Dwayne Dogan, Pastor of Long Branch Baptist Church, and to congratulate him as he celebrates a quarter of a century of service to his God, to his congregation, and to the community.

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is pleased to learn that Pastor Richard Sean Dwayne Dogan will be honored at a celebration of his faithful service to Long Branch Baptist Church; and

Whereas, he earned a bachelor's degree from Clemson University in 1998 and attended Shaw School of Divinity in Raleigh, North Carolina, and was installed as senior pastor of Long Branch Baptist Church on June 1, 1998; and

Whereas, Pastor Dogan has initiated many programs that have positively affected the local community, such as a monthly feeding program and partnership with Harvest Hope Food Bank serving seventy-five to one hundred families monthly in the Greater Sullivan Community to alleviate food shortages in Greenville County; and

Whereas, he introduced scholarship programs and business-grant opportunities available to members of Long Branch Baptist Church and has worked diligently to promote the message of health and wellness to the community through the 100 Days of Faith, Fitness, and Fellowship; and

Whereas, devoted to his community, Pastor Dogan has served as the interim president and CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate and is currently director of Community Health for Bon Secours Saint Francis, leading a team of dedicated social workers, nurses, and community health navigators to bring accessible healthcare to the Greenville community; and

Whereas, he has served on the boards of REEM Greenville, S.H.A.R.E., United Ministries, United Way of Greenville County, Greenville Civitan, Greenville Symphony, LISC, Piedmont Health Foundation, Wholespire, Upstate American Heart Association, Sickle Cell, Hollingsworth Funds, LiveWell Greenville, Mill Community Ministries, Public Education Partners, St. Anthony's Catholic School, Christ Church Episcopal School, Senior Action, Generations Group Home, as well as serving with the Capital Campaign Committee of the Urban League of the Upstate, the Carlo & Nika White Foundation, Pendleton Place for Children and Families, UNCF Upstate, and the N.A.A.C.P.; and 

Whereas, Pastor Dogan was listed in the 2020 edition of Greenville's 50 Most Influential People and "The Best and Brightest Under 35" by Greenville Business Magazine in 2010, and he is a graduate of The Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Initiative in the spring of 2011 class and Liberty Fellowship of the Aspen Global Leadership Network class of 2017; and

Whereas, together with his beloved wife, the former Satreva Young, he is the proud father of a devoted daughter, Ramiah Dogan; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate commend Pastor Dogan for his dedication to the Long Branch Baptist Church congregation and his extensive service to his community.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Richard Sean Dwayne Dogan, Pastor of Long Branch Baptist Church, and congratulate him as he celebrates a quarter of a century of service to his God, to his congregation, and to the community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Richard Sean Dwayne Dogan.

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