[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 55 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF LEMONT'S MEGAN DOHERTY--ONE OF AMERICA'S TOP TEN YOUTH 
                               VOLUNTEERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 8, 2000

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Megan Doherty of 
Lemont, Illinois, for being named one of America's top ten youth 
volunteers by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
  As my colleagues are no doubt aware, the Prudential Spirit of 
Community Awards honor outstanding volunteer community service. The 
award was created five years ago by Prudential to encourage youth 
volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models.
  And what a role model Megan is.
  Though just a junior at Mt. Assisi Academy in Lemont, she has proven 
that one person can make a difference.
  Over the past two years, Megan raised more than $56,000 to bring 29 
young cancer victims of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine 
to Illinois for life-saving medical treatment and dental care that were 
not available to them in their own country.
  Inspired by a speech by the executive director of ``Camps for 
Children of Chernobyl,'' Megan first asked her parents only to be a 
host family for one of the sick children. However, upon learning that 
the children had to travel in groups of 10 or more to hold down costs, 
she set out to find enough host families and raise enough money to 
bring an entire group to Lemont.
  She was more than successful.
  In the summer of 1998, 13 cancer-stricken children traveled to 
Lemont, and 16 more came in 1999. Two of the children underwent major 
surgery and another is now in the process of being adopted by an 
American family.
  Megan isn't finished either. She plans to bring another 16 Ukrainian 
children to Lemont this summer.
  Being named as one of the top ten youth volunteers in the nation--out 
of more than 20,000 nominees--is a true achievement.
  More importantly, though, at a time when we all too often hear only 
of the senseless or negative acts of our nation's youth, Megan proves 
again the enormous capacity for goodness that our children and youth 
possess.
  It is an honor to represent this outstanding young woman in Congress 
and a privilege to recognize her achievements here today.

                          ____________________