HR0142 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0142 LRB094 10957 HSS 41542 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Kelly Voigt, esteemed resident of Palatine and a seventh grader at Plum Grove Junior High School, has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service by being named one of the top two youth volunteers in Illinois for 2005 in the tenth annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards; and

WHEREAS, These prestigious awards, presented by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, honor young volunteers across America who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving their communities; as a State Honoree, Ms. Voigt will receive a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion, and a trip to Washington, D.C., for a series of national recognition events; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Voigt founded a nonprofit organization to teach other children how to prevent dog bites; when she was 7 years old, a dog attack left Kelly with more than 100 stitches on her face and throat, as well as lingering trauma and depression; after her mother learned that dog bites are the leading cause of injuries to children, they decided together to find a way to teach kids how to be safe from dog bites; and

WHEREAS, Kelly collected information from the library, the Internet, and insurance companies, and then designed a presentation that kids would understand and remember; she received permission to deliver her presentation at her school, and soon began speaking at other schools, libraries, and Humane Society and American Kennel Club locations, assisted by a dog-handling professional and her therapy dog; Kelly has also discussed her safety tips on national television programs, and last May, she was a guest speaker in Washington, D.C., for National Dog Bite Prevention Week; and

WHEREAS, The success of the State of Illinois, the strength of our communities, and the overall vitality of American society depends, in great measure, upon the dedication of young people like Ms. Voigt who use their considerable talents and resources to serve others; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate and honor Kelly Voigt for being a recipient of a Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and we recognize her outstanding record of volunteer service, peer leadership, and community spirit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Kelly Voigt as a token of our respect and esteem and with our best wishes for her continued success and happiness.