LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Joli Russo upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the President's Lifetime Achievement Award
for Volunteer Service

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor
those New York State residents who give generously of themselves to
their communities and who strive to improve the lives of others through
caring and dedicated volunteer service; and
WHEREAS, Joli Russo of Howard Beach, Queens, is one such exceptional
New York State resident who, at the young age of 11, has demonstrated an
extraordinary capacity for contributing selflessly to a variety of
volunteer efforts in her community; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Joli Russo
upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the President's
Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service; and
WHEREAS, Joli Russo received this auspicious award in recognition of
her unparalleled commitment, a tremendous distinction which recognizes
those Americans who have volunteered 4,000 hours of their time on behalf
of the needs of others; and
WHEREAS, Joli Russo has now amassed more than 4,200 hours of volunteer
service, and is eager to continue contributing to the betterment of her
community, State and Nation through the time she donates helping at food
pantries; working at cancer research organizations; raising money for
celiac disease awareness; aiding children with autism; collecting food
and clothing for those in need; conducting drives to obtain Halloween
costumes for children whose families cannot afford them, and pursuing
other charitable endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Joli Russo, whose parents are both cancer survivors, is
particularly interested in finding a cure for this debilitating disease;
she holds among her many aspirations the dream of one day becoming a
doctor and helping to spare others and their families the pain and chal-
lenges of a cancer diagnosis; in 2014, she served as a Youth Ambassador
for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; and
WHEREAS, Joli Russo, who is also considering a career as a broadcast
journalist, is an accomplished and multi-talented young actress who has
done voice-over work in commercials, has appeared in several episodes of
the ABC television show "What Would You Do?" and was a featured extra in
the movie "Annie" among other film opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Joli Russo has been very involved in the Miss America
Pageant, and was crowned Miss New York Junior Pre-Teen in 2012 in the
National American Miss competition, the largest pageant in the country
for girls ages four through 18, and has continued to compete in various
pageants and served as a "princess" to reigning Miss America Kira
Kazantsev; and
WHEREAS, Joli Russo, through her many unique achievements and remark-
ably giving nature, is an inspirational role model for other young
people as well as residents of all ages in the State of New York, and is
to be congratulated for earning the very prestigious President's Life-
time Achievement Award for Volunteer Service after working her way up
through the Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers of this honor; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor and recognize Joli Russo as a recipient of the President's Life-
time Achievement Award for Volunteer Service, and for her continuing
efforts to improve the lives of others in her community, her State and
her Nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Joli Russo.