House Resolution 86

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MS. LINDSEY MEYER UPON BEING NAMED A STATE HONOREE IN THE 21ST ANNUAL PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS AND BEING RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF MISSISSIPPI'S TOP YOUTH VOLUNTEERS FOR 2016.

WHEREAS, Lindsey Meyer, an esteemed resident of Pass Christian, Mississippi, and incomparably selfless student at Pass Christian High School, merited prestigious, national recognition for her exemplary volunteer service as one of the two top youth volunteers in Mississippi when she was named a 2016 State Honoree in the 21st Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards; and

WHEREAS, this prestigious award, presented by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, honors young volunteers across America, like Lindsey, who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving their communities; and

WHEREAS, all public and private middle and high schools in the country, as well as all Girl Scout Councils, County 4-H organizations, American Red Cross Chapters, YMCAs, Camp Fire USA Councils and volunteer centers, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and after the local honorees were reviewed, State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists were selected based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth; and

WHEREAS, as a State Honoree, Lindsey will receive a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion, and a trip to Washington, DC, for a series of national recognition events during which she will be considered for the National Honoree Title, the winner of which receives an additional $5,000 award, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy, and a $5,000 grant from the Prudential Foundation for a charitable organization of their choice; and

WHEREAS, after working at the civitan summer camp for children with special needs, Lindsey's heart was engulfed by an unparalleled compassion for these truly remarkable children, and she became unable to shelve her avid desire to address the many hardships children affected with autism or other special needs must face as a result of rigid societal constraints; and

WHEREAS, when Lindsey read an article that a young autistic boy and his family were kicked out of a movie theatre because of an excited outburst he could not control, her heart broke, and she knew she had to take action so that autistic children are not forced to miss out on the simple pleasure of going to see the latest Disney movie with their families because they may not be able to sit still or remain quiet throughout the entire movie; and

WHEREAS, Lindsey immediately began contacting several local theaters to propose a "sensory friendly" movie presentation, which meant a presentation that has no previews or commercials before the movie, requires the lights to be on during the movie and the sound to be low, and permits the moviegoers to roam about, chit chat, clap and even sing while the movie plays because otherwise, the dark theater, thundering surround sound, over-stimulating advertisements and constant "Shhhhs" from the audience cause immense pain and anxiety for a person with special needs, preventing them from viewing the latest box office classics from Hollywood; and

WHEREAS, while Lindsey made dozens of phone calls promoting her idea, only one theater, Cinemark Theaters in Gulfport, would listen to her and the benefits her special showing would provide to the community, and after several meetings working through the details of the event with the theater's management team, the theater agreed to show a "sensory friendly" family movie for people with autism and other special needs; and

WHEREAS, Lindsey was bursting with excitement that the theater was amenable to her plans, and she immediately began training local volunteers to help monitor the event, posting movie fliers on various social media platforms and reaching out to the special needs community for support; and

WHEREAS, not only support but praise for Lindsey and her persistent, benevolent spirit flooded in from numerous organizations, schools, homes and individuals who were extremely eager and ecstatic to reserve seats for the special movie extravaganza, and the theater management team was so moved by the outpouring of encouragement and attendance for the event as well as the pleasurable normalcy it provided to the special needs citizens of Mississippi that they agreed to host a "sensory friendly" movie each month; and

WHEREAS, consumed with a remarkable spirit of volunteerism, Lindsey Meyer serves as an icon and role model for her peers, as her extraordinary example of selfless service to others encourages and inspires all those around her to volunteer, and those outstanding efforts have showered benevolence onto her community and brought pride and honor to the City of Pass Christian, Pass Christian High School and the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to pay special recognition to exceptional young Mississippians such as Lindsey Meyer, a young adult of incredible leadership ability and compassion who recognized the hardships of her fellow citizens and charged herself with remedying them through selfless hard work and dedication, representing the very best of America's youth and the future of this great Magnolia State:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Lindsey Meyer upon being named a state honoree in the 21st Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Lindsey Meyer and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.