[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 2, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E279-E280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO DEMERY ORMROD OF ORANGE, CONNECTICUT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 2, 2010

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Demery 
Ormrod of Orange, Connecticut, a young woman from my district who, by 
virtue of her strong commitment to volunteer service, has been named a 
winner of a 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Award.
  An eighth grader at Amity Middle School, Demery raised more than 
$20,000 to help provide cleft palate and lip surgeries for 86 children 
through the charitable organization Smile Train. She began these 
efforts while still in elementary school, making bookmarks, lollipops, 
cookies, and jewelry with her friends, which she then sold at her 
family's restaurant.
  When news of Demery's good works spread throughout the community, 
other schools got involved, local businesses offered matching funds, 
and strangers sent along checks, all to help the cause. The playwright 
Henrik Ibsen once said that ``A community is like a ship--Everyone 
ought to be prepared to take the helm.'' And that is exactly what 
Demery has accomplished here. Because she was moved to help children 
less fortunate than herself, and because she took the extra step to get 
involved on their behalf, Demery took the helm of her community, and 
ignited the whole State of Connecticut behind her efforts.
  Demery is a perfect candidate for this Spirit of Community Award, and 
a great representative for the importance of volunteers. Created by 
Prudential Financial, in partnership with the National Association of 
Secondary School Principals, in 1995, to reward youths who give their 
time and talents back to their community, this award has honored nearly 
100,000 young volunteers at the local, state, and national levels over 
the past 15 years.
  I applaud Demery's good works and Prudential's commitment to 
recognizing her and other students like her. I congratulate her on this 
award, and I very much hope she continues to give back to the community 
in the years to come.

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