DeLauro Congratulates New Haven Resident Lainee Burnette on Receiving the “Kids to Kids” National Service Award

Encourages More Young People to Volunteer

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) welcomed Lainee Burnette of New Haven, CT to Washington, D.C. and congratulated her on receiving the "Kids to Kids" National Service Award from the Child Welfare League of America. She is one of three individuals nationwide to receive this award, which is given in recognition of youth who have reached out to help their peers in the community.

"I was very impressed by Lainee – here is a young woman who has faced adversity and not only thrived, but has actively worked to help other young people in her community. She truly deserves this award for her selfless service and her motivation and determination serves as an example for others," said DeLauro. "She continues to demonstrate a remarkable commitment to community service and building a better country that will continue long after these years of service."

"This award is really an honor. I'm glad that there is an award that gives kids recognition for doing well and I can show the kids I work with and my peers that helping others and trying hard to achieve your goals does get noticed. I'm really happy to be given the opportunity to be here in Washington, D.C. and represent kids who are stepping up to make the future a brighter place," said Lainee Burnette.

Tiwana Dennis of The Connection, Inc. in Middletown and who nominated Lainee, added, "I nominated Lainee Burnette for this prestigious award because she is such a positive role model for other youths. She has overcome many obstacles in life and has continued to be a positive influence in the lives of so many other young adults. Lainee tutors 7th and 8th graders at Hopkins, is the president of NSBE and maintains an A average. In my opinion, Lainee Burnette is a confident, compassionate, charismatic young lady and continues to share with others the message of hope and achievement."

Peter Nucci, President and CEO of The Connection, Inc., also added "Supportive Housing for Families (SHF)is a cost effective program that preserves the family unit by reunifying families that have been separated by foster care, or preventing the use of foster care altogether. For the past 11 years, SHF has successfully helped families that were homeless or at risk of homelessness, attain affordable, long term housing and become contributing members of their communities. Lainee and her mother Jo Ann are shining examples of the success that can come out of a program like SHF. Turning a negative situation around to a positive one, and using those experiences to help others in the community."

Lainee Burnette is a 15 year-old student at Hopkins School in New Haven where she maintains an A average. She is the recipient of a full scholarship and for the past two years has received additional awards based on merit. She has a dream in which she hopes to see come true when she attends Harvard University to become a plastic surgeon.

While Lainee as faced and overcome many obstacles in her young life, her determination and motivation to be a success has driven her to be a role model and advocate for other struggling children. She loves to write and wrote a winning essay about her neighborhood and overcoming homelessness that was published in the New Haven Independent newspaper. Lainee has been a tutor for 7-9th graders for the past two years teaching math and history. She is active in her community and has been involved in efforts to build a new library in the Columbus Avenue section of New Haven.