2013 -- H 6235

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LC02744

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND CONGRATULATING THOMAS E. NEWMAN, III, ON BEING NAMED

THE RHODE ISLAND MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION

2013 GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

     Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Hearn, Chippendale, Finn, and Marcello

     Date Introduced: June 12, 2013

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Thomas Newman has been diagnosed with centronuclear myopathy with a

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titin protein mutation, a genetic cell abnormality that causes muscle weakness.  For some people,

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that diagnosis may well have limited their joy for life, but not so for Thomas; and

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     WHEREAS, Thomas is a happy and outgoing five-year-old kindergarten student at

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Meeting Street School. On June 22nd, he will be turning six, although he possesses the soul of

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someone much older.   Thomas enjoys school, reading, cooking, playing with Legos, and video

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games; and

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     WHEREAS, An irrepressible personality, combined with the optimism of a pure heart

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and a great sense of humor, as well as family support and the resources available through the

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Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), have enabled Thomas to lead a fun, fairly independent,

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and full life and have made him an exemplary candidate for the MDA's Goodwill Ambassador;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Thomas hails from Riverside where he lives with his mom, Kathryn, and his

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Nonna and Papa.  He has also accumulated a plethora of friends from around the state and is

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particularly proud of his friendship with Congressman David Cicilline, whom he met through his

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work with the MDA.  His hero, although he has yet to meet him, is Morgan Freeman; and

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     WHEREAS, Over the course of his tenure as the 2013 MDA Goodwill Ambassador,

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Thomas will attend fundraisers, including one to be held on July 21st at the China Gourmet

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Restaurant in Riverside, and will sponsor gatherings and other events to spread the word about

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MDA and its mission to find treatment and cures for neuromuscular diseases; and

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     WHEREAS, There are always young people who rise above the rest, who overcome

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obstacles many of us will never have to face and are willing to endeavor to make their dreams

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become reality.  Thomas Newman is just such an exceptional young man.  With a strength that

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belies his youth, his determination is inspirational and he is truly deserving of our recognition and

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praise; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby honors and congratulates Thomas E. Newman, III, on being named

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the Muscular Dystrophy Association 2013 Goodwill Ambassador for our state.  We wish him

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continued success and much happiness; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Thomas E. Newman, III.

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LC02744

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