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March 31, 2009 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 155, Pt. 7 9383 Mr. Valentine was nominated by the Amer- work together at the local level to ensure the Pedro Pablo Zamora y Dı´az was born on ican Red Cross of Montana in Great Falls, and health and vitality of our own communities. February 29, 1972, in the outskirts of Havana, Pamela was nominated by the Ravalli County Young volunteers like Cheyne and Pamela are Cuba, the eighth and youngest child of a tight- 4-H in Hamilton. As State Honorees, each will inspiring examples to all of us, and are among knit family. Like countless others, the Zamora receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. family left Cuba’s shores for a better life. And and an all-expenses-paid trip in early May to The program that brought these young vol- on May 30, 1980, Pedro, his brother, sister, Washington, D.C., where they will join hon- unteers to our attention—The Prudential Spirit and parents boarded a crowded boat and orees from each of the other states and Dis- of Community Awards—was created by Pru- began the 25-hour treacherous voyage to Hia- trict of Columbia for several days of national dential Financial in partnership with the Na- leah, Florida, a suburb of Miami. Pedro was recognition events. Ten of them will be named tional Association of Secondary School Prin- eight years old. America’s top youth volunteers for 2009 at cipals in 1995 to impress upon all youth volun- Five years later, tragedy struck the Zamora that time. teers that their contributions are critically im- family when Pedro lost his beloved mother to As a member of the American Red Cross of portant and highly valued, and to inspire other skin cancer. The precocious teenager re- Montana and a senior at Bigfork High School, young people to follow their example. Over the sponded by immersing himself in academics Cheyne helped spearhead a community cam- past 14 years, the program has become the and extracurricular activities, becoming an paign that collected $4,400 to purchase two nation’s largest youth recognition effort based honor student, president of the science club heart defibrillators for his school and provide solely on community service and has honored and captain of the cross-country team, and CPR training for coaches, after his best friend more than 80,000 young volunteers at the was voted ‘‘most intellectual’’ and ‘‘most all suffered a heart attack during football practice local, state and national level. around’’ by his peers. and later died. When his friend, Jeff, collapsed Mr. Valentine and Ms. Fawns should be ex- However, it was Pedro’s actions outside of on the field, Cheyne discovered that school tremely proud to have been singled out from school which changed the course of his life. personnel had neither the training nor equip- the thousands of dedicated volunteers who Struggling with being gay and seeking to fill ment to deal with such an emergency. ‘‘I am participated in this year’s program. I heartily the void that was created by his mother’s certain that if the coach had been trained in applaud both of them for their initiative in death, the 14-year-old honor student began CPR and there had been a defibrillator on the seeking to make their communities better having unprotected sex with multiple men. field, the outcome for my friend would have places to live. Their actions show that young Unbeknown to Pedro, the first Surgeon been different,’’ he said. Cheyne began seek- Americans can—and do—play important roles General’s report on HIV/AIDS was issued ing donations to pay for two automatic exter- in our communities. around the same time. At the height of the nal defibrillators and training for his school’s f Reagan era and the ‘‘War on Drugs’’ another coaches. He and his mother posted 500 fliers, war was being waged against a new disease spoke to hundreds of community members HONORING JEANNETTE VARELA that was killing an alarming number of people and wrote columns and letters to editors of in the gay community and beyond. local newspapers. The defibrillators purchased HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART Ironically, the Surgeon General’s report stat- with the donations from the fundraising drive OF FLORIDA ed that comprehensive sex education was the were presented to Bigfork High School in De- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES most powerful weapon against HIV/AIDS and cember, 2008. Meanwhile, Cheyne also has should begin at the lowest grade possible. The begun working to persuade state legislators to Tuesday, March 31, 2009 report also mentioned the importance of pass a law requiring AEDs at all school ath- Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. teaching children about healthy heterosexual letic events and training for all coaches in Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and homosexual relationships, and acknowl- Montana. ‘‘I have started the ball rolling in this Jeannette Varela, a successful entrepreneur edged that HIV/AIDS had a disproportionate community,’’ said Cheyne, ‘‘and it will continue with a commitment to her community. effect among Latinos and blacks. until all schools in Montana make these safety Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, Jeannette And yet, this lifesaving message failed to changes.’’ was the second of eight children. At the age trickle down into many classrooms across the Ms. Fawns, a member of the Ravalli County of eighteen, Jeannette left her home country country. The sex education that Pedro Zamora 4-H and a seventh grader at Valley Oak Acad- with just thirty dollars and a limited grasp of received within his Miami school stigmatized emy High School in Corvallis, creates floral ar- English. She came to the United States seek- HIV/AIDS, portrayed homosexuality as shame- rangements to promote and raise funds for 4- ing a new life in the ‘‘land of opportunity.’’ ful, and failed to provide him and other stu- H and other school projects. ‘‘ I have always Jeannette found work in various jobs to make dents with a relevant, factual and thorough un- had a joy in creating art with flowers because ends meet, eventually working in the heavy derstanding of HIV/AIDS. flower arrangements lighten up your mood and equipment industry in Miami, Florida. On November 9, 1989, Pedro Zamora re- can make people feel happy when they are ill She has a heart for helping others, has ceived confirmation that he had contracted the or sad,’’ said Pamela, who comes from a long been recognized for her philanthropic endeav- HIV virus. He was 17 years old. line of horticulturists. To gain more experience ors and is a respected community leader. Refusing to let the devastating news damp- in floral design, Pamela persuaded a local flo- As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I er his spirit, Zamora joined a Miami-based rist to let her work as a volunteer intern. After ask you to join me in honoring Jeannette HIV/AIDS resource center called Body Posi- learning first-hand about selecting, processing Varela. tive, where he met others who were living with and arranging flowers, she started to think f HIV/AIDS. A new desire to educate others about ways she could use her skills to raise about AIDS was ignited, and Pedro decided to money for community projects. Through flower COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND devote his talents as a thinker and communi- sales, Pamela was able to generate funds for LEGACY OF PEDRO ZAMORA, cator to a career in AIDS education. a community meal project and new sports WORLD RENOWNED HIV/AIDS ED- Pedro began raising awareness about HIV/ equipment for her school. She also realized UCATOR AND ACTIVIST AIDS within the Latino community in South how effective flowers are in motivating volun- Florida. He lectured at schools from the pri- teers, so she began making arrangements for HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS mary to collegial level, churches, community adult volunteers in her community. ‘‘I recog- OF FLORIDA centers, and other venues around the country. nized that flowers, unlike other gifts, could IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES He spoke about the need for evidence-based really have a brightening effect on people’s education for preventing and managing HIV/ Tuesday, March 31, 2009 lives,’’ she said. AIDS, forming healthy relationships, de-stig- In light of numerous statistics indicating Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, matizing HIV/AIDS and combating Americans today are less involved in their I rise today to introduce a resolution that pays homophobia. communities than they once were, it is vital tribute to Pedro Zamora, a world renowned In mid-1993, Pedro Zamora sent his audi- that we encourage and support the kind of educator and activist who moved millions to tion tape to the producers of MTV’s television selfless contributions these young citizens confront their fears and misconceptions about reality series The Real World. Out of more have made. People of all ages need to think HIV/AIDS and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and than 25,000 applicants, he was chosen to live more about how we, as individual citizens, can Transgender (LGBT) community. in front of the camera along with six other VerDate Mar 15 2010 13:58 Aug 05, 2011 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR09\E31MR9.000 E31MR9 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD.

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