[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNITION FOR KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

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                          HON. ANNE M. NORTHUP

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2005

  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the 
philanthropic work of forty high-school students at Kentucky Country 
Day School in Louisville, Kentucky whose original fund-raising work on 
behalf of local organizations won them nationwide recognition for 
curriculum innovation in February 2005 by the Washington, D.C.-based 
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Kentucky Country 
Day School was one of three schools nationally to receive this 
prestigious honor through the Leading Edge Program run by NAIS. The 
Leading Edge Program was created to explore, encourage, support and 
reward exceptional and innovative achievement in the areas of community 
relations, curriculum innovation, equity and justice initiatives and 
technology. This award is a testament to Kentucky Country Day School's 
commitment to developing and enhancing the leadership skills of the 
youngest and brightest among us through its unique Philanthropy course.
  Philanthropy is no easy endeavor. Andrew Carnegie once said, ``I 
resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and 
difficult task of wise distribution.'' With a $10,000 grant, these high 
school students began this ``serious and difficult task'' by creating a 
mission statement to help define their purpose and goals for The 
Artemis Fund, the charitable trust which they themselves operated. As 
trustees, these students were faced with the challenge of raising funds 
through telephone solicitations and establishing rules and procedures 
for giving and selecting worthy causes to fund.
  Since the course's inception in 2001, The Artemis Fund has dispensed 
just over $19,000 to local organizations. This year, among the 
recipients chosen by The Artemis Fund were The Deaf Oral School and 
Youth Alive, a western Louisville after-school reading program.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the most exciting things for me to see is the 
building up of our youth through positive and enriching programs that 
last far longer than the prescribed semester. Life-impacting education 
serves as a bedrock for creative ideas that one day will be used to 
transform the way we, as a society, interact and live. I am proud to 
know that these students have learned more than how to accumulate and 
dispense funds. Indeed, they have learned to lead by example and 
commitment, following through on their stated goals. This opportunity 
to learn about ``hands-on philanthropy'' will serve them well into 
adulthood. We can all take an important lesson from their great 
achievement and service to their community. I am delighted to recognize 
the Kentucky Country Day School for this momentous accomplishment.

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