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Youth Heroes |
Morgan O'Neil
Senator Lieberman is pleased to honor Morgan O'Neil of New Canaan as a Connecticut Youth Hero in recognition of her generous support of breast cancer research and her entrepreneurial spirit. Morgan is an 18 year old senior at the St. Luke's School in New Canaan. In 2004, Morgan accompanied her mother on a visit to a friend who was battling breast cancer. Deeply moved by the illness of her mother's friend, Morgan became determined to find a way to help contribute to the fight against breast cancer. Says Morgan, "I saw how my mom's friend was struggling and how it was affecting her family. I walked out the door and said to my mom, 'You just can't see that and not do anything to help.' On the car ride home I came up with the idea of bringing together my interest in fashion with my desire to stop breast cancer. I began designing and selling fashionable women's belts to help the fight against breast cancer by donating part of my profits." Morgan founded her now thriving business, Ribbons with Love, using her grandmother's old sewing machine and some scrap materials she had laying around the house. Initially, Morgan sold her belts to family members and classmates. However, as demand for her belts grew, Morgan launched a website (www.ribbonswithlove.com) and began selling her belts in retail stores. Currently, her belts can be found in stores in nine states across the country. Morgan's belts retail for $76 and she donates 15% of her net profits to the American Cancer Society's Making Strides for Breast Cancer Foundation. Morgan's efforts to fight breast cancer have earned her numerous accolades from her community and the American Cancer Society. In February 2007, Morgan was honored with the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Pacesetter Award. The Pacesetter Award is given to volunteers who raise at least $2,000 for a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. In total, Morgan has raised over $3,000 for this event through her business. "Morgan is being honored as a Youth Hero because when she was confronted with the realities of a devastating illness, she felt compelled to do what she could to combat breast cancer," said Lieberman. "It is estimated that approximately 218,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year and an additional 40,000 individuals will lose their battle with breast cancer in 2007. Continued education and research efforts are the key to combating and eventually curing this disease. Morgan's entrepreneurship and generosity provide crucial support for these efforts and I applaud her ongoing determination to aid in the fight against breast cancer." |
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