[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 806]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING THE VITAMIN L PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MAURICE D. HINCHEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 27, 2010

  Mr. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Vitamin 
L Project of Ithaca, New York on 20 years of service, and to commend 
the founders of this group, Jan and Janice Nigro, on their steadfast 
dedication to community service.
  For two decades, the Vitamin L Project has taught young people 
throughout New York state the power of diversity and positive character 
development. In 1989, Jan and Janice conceptualized and launched the 
Project as an innovative model for teaching character education through 
the magic of song. It all began in Ithaca, New York when a teacher 
friend of Jan Nigro's asked him to write some songs for elementary-age 
children about the universal human values of diversity, love, truth, 
peace, and non-violence. This single request blossomed in 17 songs, and 
the Vitamin L transformative magic of character building was underway 
creating a library of uplifting and inspirational music.
  Over time, the Vitamin L Chorus was established, which today includes 
approximately 80 young performers as well as a growing group of Vitamin 
L alumni. Jan's wife, Janice, serves as Vitamin L Project Director and 
works tirelessly to sustain the Project's mission through outreach to 
elementary schools, recruitment and training of youth singers, 
organizing concerts, and serving as mentor and coach to all Chorus 
members. Together, this husband-and- wife team, along with enthusiastic 
Chorus members, and a host of supportive parents and community members, 
has touched the hearts and minds of children across New York State and 
other locations where Vitamin L has been invited to perform.
  With its focus on early childhood development, Vitamin L encourages 
children to think about moral issues in a non-threatening, fun, and 
very personal way. By singing the songs, watching the Vitamin L Chorus 
act out scenes of things like the consequences of ``jumping to 
conclusions'' and having opportunities to talk with Vitamin L Chorus 
members, young audiences see the importance of valuing positive 
character and moral behavior.
  Vitamin L's first published group character-building songs titled, 
``Walk a Mile,'' won the nationally recognized Parent's Choice Gold 
Award shortly after its release in 1989. Three more Vitamin L 
recordings of character building songs received similar praise from the 
Parent's Choice Gold Awards in subsequent years. The recordings have 
also received very positive reviews in numerous national publications, 
such as School Library Journal, Booklist, and Time Magazine.
  I thank Jan and Janice Nigro for their unwavering commitment to 
improving their community and congratulate them on 20 successful years 
with the Vitamin L Project. Their contributions have touched countless 
people, and enriched the lives of my constituents in New York's 22nd 
Congressional District and well beyond. The world could use more people 
who contribute to their county, state, and country, like Jan and Janice 
and I am grateful for the work they have done, what they are doing 
today, and their bright future.

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