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Michelle
is a spokesperson
for the Children's
Miracle Network (CMN), and co-chairs
CMN's ProKids program, and
Champions Across America. It started when the amount of stuffed
animals her fans threw onto the ice
piled up. Michelle said, "Pretty
soon I had a room full of them. I thought, 'What am I going
to do with all these?' So I decided to give them to the kids
at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and they loved it. And
then I thought, 'I can do more.'" And so, she became a member
of CMN's team.
Michelle visits
hospitals, helps to raise funds, appears on CMN's annual national
telethon, and tries to cheer up
the children she visits. About
her support of CMN, Michelle said, "I think it's important
to set an example, to say 'This needs to be done.' You want
to make a difference."
Also, in the May
29, 1998 edition of the USA
Today paper, there was a two page ad for the CMN telethon,
with a huge picture of Michelle. That same picture also appeared
on CMN's homepage until it's recent makeover. In addition,
Michelle appeared on the cover of the Spring/Summer 1998 issue
of Miracles
Magazine, CMN's magazine. There was also a television
spot that Michelle did for CMN that appeared on national TV
and Delta Airlines flights.
On November 19,
2001, Michelle hosted a skating clinic at HealthSouth in El
Segundo, CA for 25 CMN kids, ages 4-14, from Childrens Hospital
Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of the Skar
Skater Barbie doll. After their lesson, the kids were
treated to a pizza party, and each child received a Star Skater
Barbie doll autographed by Michelle. "It's incredible for
them to meet an Olympic champion," said the hospital's Assistant
Director Victoria Murad. “It really lifts their spirits. We
want to promote their well-being. It's very empowering to
be treated like ordinary children." The hospital's director
of major and planned event, Pamela Ludwig, said, "We are thrilled
to have been chosen by Mattel to participate in this exciting
launch with Michelle Kwan. This event is a way to really give
back to these children by celebrating their health and bring
them closer to the Olympics without even having to leave Los
Angeles."
Michelle is on
a billboard advertising CMN's "Buy a Balloon and Help a Kid"
campaign! Michelle is wearing a black shirt, with her hair
down. Under her picture, it simply said: "Michelle Kwan: Champion
Figure Skater." The billboard was first spotted in mid May
2002.
Update!
In
the September 16, 2002 issue of several magazines, including
Time, People, Fortune and Sports Illustrated, is a Cigna
ad with Michelle. The ad is part of Cigna's public awareness
campaign called The
Power of Caring, a program of editorials, which features
extraordinary people who have dedicated themselves to helping
others through significant involvement in charitable causes.
"Their dedication, generosity and prominence leads the
way for the rest of us to get involved, because together,
we can really make a difference for others who need our help."
The ad with Michelle concentrates on her work with CMN.
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