[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1475]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         BEADING TO BEAT AUTISM

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, it takes real heroes and real leaders to 
believe in the possibility of what we can do through hard work, 
perseverance, and commitment to make the world a better place. I'm 
proud to say that my hometown of Louisville has many of these leaders, 
and this week, one of them, 13-year-old Michala Riggle, was recognized 
nationally with the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. It's a well-
deserved recognition, and I rise to applaud Michala's work with Beading 
to Beat Autism, which has been nothing but miraculous.
  Three years ago, after learning that an underfunded treatment program 
could help thousands of kids in Louisville with autism, like her 
brother Evan, Michala stepped up. She planned to enlist her friends and 
family to raise $200,000 by making beaded bracelets and selling them 
for $3 each. People told her it was impossible, but she said, It's just 
like a ball game. If you don't believe you can win, it's game over 
before you start. You gotta believe. And after 6 months, Michala had 
reached her goal. To date, she's raised $350,000 to help children with 
autism. Now, through BeadingtoBeatAutism.org, she hopes to raise $300 
million to finance an autism research center in Louisville. And I don't 
doubt that she can accomplish that.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the Members of the House to join me to salute 
her. I'm proud to wear her bracelets and proud that she's a resident of 
the Third District of Kentucky.
  Congratulations, Michala.

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