ABC World News Person & Local Youth Caregiver Receives Wish for a Vacation

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Jan. 13, 2014 - PRLog -- Christopher Miller, a member of the Caregiving Youth Project was named “Person of the Week” on November 15^th by Diane Sawyer during her World News program.  Interviewed by Josh Elliott of Good Morning America for Ms. Sawyer’s series on hidden populations, Chris, who is an eighth grade student at Palm Springs Middle School, talked about his critical role and special relationship as he cares for his grandmother, Dixie Miller.  The roles are often reversed as Dixie, age 64, is his guardian.

When asked by Elliott if there was one thing he would like, Christopher replied, “A vacation.”

According to Connie Siskowski, President of the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY), people from across the country responded to Chris’s request. “I couldn’t believe so many people would care about us” Dixie Miller told Siskowski. Chris was also touched that people invited him to come and live with their family if anything should ever happen to his grandmother.

Best of all though was the donation from a caring family from Atlanta to the Miller family of a vacation to Orlando during the Holidays. A limo provided transportation and the vacation of his young lifetime included a stay in a Suite at the Hyatt, trips to Sea World and Universal Studios including Adventure Island and all the food they could eat. During this time of respite Chris had no cooking or dishes to do and his grandmother was provided with a motorized scooter throughout their five day vacation.

Soon after their return to West Palm Beach, Chris received a laptop computer from the generous donor of the vacation, who wishes to remain anonymous. Young Miller has also been told that as he enters high school and maintains at least a 3.0 GPA he will also be in line for a college scholarship.

The Caregiving Youth Project, the model program of the AACY, has been serving students in Palm Beach County since 2006. According to Mark Hansen, former School Board member of The School District of Palm Beach County and Chairperson of the AACY Board, “It takes courage for Chris and other caregiving youth to share their stories of the challenges they face. With the support of the CYP, they are able to learn skills, build their confidence and receive needed services so they can have academic and personal success.”

For more information, visit www.aacy.org or contact Dr. Siskowski at 561.391.7401.