Nevada Legislature: Senate Daily Journal - May 10, 2007

REMARKS FROM THE FLOOR

Senator Raggio requested that his remarks be entered in the Journal.

Mollie and Jackie Singer began giving of themselves when they were only six years old, when they opened their lemonade stand to raise funds for diabetes research and made more than $2,000.00. The girls quickly realized that even at a young age they could make a difference, and they started speaking at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s “Walk For the Cure” breakfasts to help CEO’s understand just how frightening and debilitating diabetes actually was. Since that time, these young ladies have raised over $300,000 for diabetes research, started an international diabetes support group for young diabetics called the “Diabetic Angels” and were two of three children selected to represent the State of Nevada at the first Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C.

At the age of ten, Mollie and Jackie began testifying before the United States Congress and were receiving national recognition for their accomplishments when Twentieth Century Fox and Lego Land selected Mollie and Jackie, from young finalists all around the Country, as two of their fifteen “Young Heroes of the Year.” Additionally, the girls wrote a booklet entitled, The Road to the Cure, which discussed their advocacy and explained how they lobbied Senators and Congressmen in Washington as they testified before different Congressional Hearings and met with President Bush on three occasions, including two special invitations to the White House.

In June of 1999, Mollie and Jackie began filming an ongoing video diary for Good Morning America about the difficulties of living with diabetes. They have also filmed multiple Public Service Announcements, including one with A.J. McLean, of the Backstreet Boys, plus two diabetes-related documentaries for newly-diagnosed diabetic youngsters and teens. Furthermore, on July 17, 2001, Mollie and Jackie participated in a press conference on the steps of the United States Capitol in support of medical research. Since June of 2001, they have appeared on numerous TV shows such as Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, several appearances on MSNBC, CNN, CBS Early Show and ABC News.

Mollie and Jackie have also given interviews and been featured in numerous national publications such as, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Boston Globe, The New York Times’ Up Front magazine, Girls Life, The Las Vegas Review Journal and Better Homes and Garden’s Diabetes Living magazine. As members of the internet generation, the girls have spent an average of 20 hours a week mentoring diabetics, their siblings, and friends around the Country as well as around the world. The girls accomplish this feat as cyber-volunteers for the juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as well as through their diabetes blog,

While always remembering their goal to cure diabetes, Mollie and Jackie have also followed their dream of becoming successful Country Western singers, and as such have successfully used their talent at the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas and Mack Center. They have made multiple showroom appearances in Las Vegas along with performances in the Grand Ballroom of the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C., and filmed a cable TV Christmas special for children. Today, Jackie and Molly are preparing to record their first CD. It is the girls’ belief that no matter how great an individual’s personal struggles are, someone else always has a greater need. Therefore, they consider themselves fortunate and believe that to those who much is given, much is expected. Recently, Mollie and Jackie were asked why they volunteer, why they spend so much time helping others, the girls replied, “Why wouldn’t we want to give back to our community, or to our Country? We do what we do because we can, and it is the right thing to do. Also, when we help others, we do not have time to feel sorry for ourselves; the reward for this effort is something that no amount of money can ever buy. In our case, we know we are blessed and loved so we have made volunteerism an important part of our lives. We walk for those who can no longer walk; we speak for those who don’t have a voice, and we give of ourselves to help those who cannot help themselves.”

There was an article in the Las Vegas Review Journal written by Fred Love of the Stephens Washington Bureau. I would like that article to be entered in the Journal for this day.

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Wednesday, May 8, 2007 WASHINGTON—A pair of Las Vegas Valley teens, recognized Monday for their volunteer work on behalf of diabetic children and children in foster care, said their work is far from over. Mollie Singer, 18, a senior at Nevada High School in Henderson, and Heather Wilder, 13, a seventh-grader at Becker Middle School, were honored separately among 10 top youth volunteers nationwide at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Wilder wrote a series of booklets based on her experience as a foster child to help others deal with the hardships of the foster system. The booklets have been distributed through the State Department of Child and Family Services and other local agencies.

Singer, diagnosed with diabetes at age 4, has raised more than $100,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation by recruiting participants for the foundation’s Walk to Cure Diabetes and organizing events like luncheons and picnics. She has also started a support group for diabetic children.

Both plan to build on their work.

Wilder said she’s writing the next installment in her series to help foster children deal with challenges like adoption and moving into new homes.

“They (foster children) think they’re the only ones going through the system,” she said. “So I write the books so they know they’re not alone.”

Singer, who will start at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Honors College in the fall, said she plans to promote the Walk to Cure Diabetes among university students.

“UNLV is a huge school, so hopefully we can get as many people as possible involved,” she said.

Wilder and Singer will receive personal awards of $5,000, engraved gold medallions, crystal trophies for their schools and $5,000 grants for charities of their choice. The Las Vegans were recognized by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Journal/Senate/Final/sj095.pdf

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