Union Endicott High School hosts “Stayin' Alive” to benefit Malaria No More
Making a Difference … the Melinda Doolittle Way
When Melinda Doolittle walked into the audition room to sing for American Idol judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson, she had no idea what the year ahead would hold for her. When millions of viewers watched that audition on television in early 2007, they had no idea of everything Melinda would accomplish, both on the popular television show and beyond. Now, countless performances, two tours, and nearly twelve months later, Melinda is embarking on the next phase of her career … and bringing hope and joy to millions of people along the way.
The talented singer with a heart of gold has recently joined forces with the organization Malaria No More, a charity that works to end deaths caused by malaria. Founded in 2006, the organization works in conjunction with several other charitable foundations, including the American Red Cross, UNICEF, and the United Way. Through monetary donations, the organization purchases anti-malarial drugs and bed nets, both of which are used to protect against the often deadly, but preventable and treatable, disease. Introduced to the organization through the Idol Gives Back charity show in April of 2007, Melinda has continued to show her lasting support of the foundation. She travelled to Africa with First Lady Laura Bush in the summer of 2007, helping to distribute the bed nets purchased through donations from Idol’s charity show.
She also had the opportunity to visit health clinics in the country and to discuss with Zambian children the effects of the disease. Melinda has remained committed to the organization, helping to raise awareness of the charity and the important work that it does. Melinda dreams big and she works hard … and she inspires her fans to dream bigger and work harder.
Melinda’s fan base is like no other. Calling themselves the Backups, her fans are not only dedicated to supporting Melinda, but her charities and each other, as well. The close-knit group of fans has become a family of sorts, each taking pride and joy in supporting Melinda in her musical aspirations and her charitable endeavors. One of those Backups is fifteen-year-old Alexis Patterson, a student at Union Endicott High School in New York. The ambitious teenager is doing exactly as Melinda does … dreaming big and working hard to make those dreams come true. The difference between Patterson and other teenagers - Patterson’s hard work will directly influence thousands of people in Africa.
“I found out about the Malaria No More charity from Melinda,” Patterson said. “Once I found out about all of this money raising for Malaria No More, I really wanted to get involved … but I didn't really have a way. When I found out about the Stayin' Alive program, I made it my priority to bring this idea to my school.”
The Stayin' Alive program works in conjunction with Malaria No More, giving high school students across the country the opportunity to get involved with the charity. Initially founded by a group of students in Florida, the program allows teenagers to hold a school dance or a series of dances to raise money for the foundation. Each school pledges a donation of one-thousand dollars, raised from the proceeds garnered from the dance(s). It’s an ideal way for the students to help a cause they may otherwise be unable to support.
“We don't really have an opportunity to get online and send out our money because we don't have credit cards at our age … and that could also get expensive,” Patterson explained. “The Stayin' Alive program is so that young people can get involved in saving the lives of children in Africa too.”
Inspired by Melinda and her work with the charity, Patterson has made it her goal to bring Stayin' Alive to her high school. Working alongside her school’s Character Council, Patterson has already brought the idea to her school administrators. The positive reception from the administration has been both heartwarming and exciting for the high school student, and so has the support given to her by her fellow students.
“My fellow classmates are a huge help in this whole idea,” she said. “They want to do all that they can to help, and I am so glad to have the support from them! I want to get my school involved in good things like this. It feels incredible knowing that we will be saving the lives of helpless families who are [plagued] with the deadly disease of malaria.”
The dance at Patterson’s school is scheduled for April 25th, 2008, with all proceeds being donated to the charity. Students will be able to place monetary donations in a given collection area at the school both prior to and during the dance. The bubbly and dedicated teenager will have an important role in both the planning and organizational stages of the event, as well as in promoting the dance to her fellow classmates.
“I will be receiving an actual bed net in the mail so that people know what we are raising money to purchase,” she said. “Anyone who would like to donate money for the cause can just drop money right into the bed net. I found it to be a pretty cool idea.”
Patterson credits Melinda with inspiring her not only to coordinate the dance, but to follow her heart and to work hard to make her dreams into a reality.
“I am just completely mesmerized by all that she does because she is SUCH a great person,” Patterson explained enthusiastically. “She has inspired me to dream big, because anything can happen when you dream big … And trust me, dreaming big has done more for me than ever imaginable, and I am so thankful for that!”
As the curtain rises on the next act of what is sure to be a long and successful career for the immensely talented and good-hearted Ms. Doolittle, she continues to inspire her Backups to follow in her footsteps, to pursue their own dreams while at the same time changing this world for the better.
“I believe that Melinda is who she is… an INCREDIBLE person, and nothing will change that,” Patterson said. “I am so thankful to have such an amazing person to look up to as my role model … I couldn't ask for a better one!”