Anaheim High sophomore Evelyn Maldonado, 15, said she’s been practicing her wave for the millions of viewers who will be watching the 129th Rose Parade.
Along with her love for music and singing, Evelyn was selected to be part of this year’s Rose Parade festivities because she’s a role model who inspires others. A “Student of the Month” who’s on Anaheim High’s honor roll, Evelyn was 18 months old when she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer that claimed her vision.
Evelyn said she discovered her love of music around age 3, when she started singing along to a CD of Disney princess songs her mother brought her to listen to during her treatments.
By age 7, Evelyn started classes at the Anaheim Braille Institute. For the past nine years, she has been thriving in the school’s performing arts program, singing lead in her school musical and in the Johnny Mercer Youth Choir.
Evelyn will be joined by two other Braille Institute students on the Lions Club International float, which celebrates the Club’s “Rocking the Vest” rap video, which Lions International created so younger potential members can view Lions in a new and fun way. The rap lyrics focus on what wearing the yellow Lions Club vest means: “Whenever a Lions Club gets together, problems get smaller and communities get better.”
The Lions Club has been supporting the Braille Institute since 1925, when Helen Keller named the Lions “Knights of the Blind” for their good work to prevent blindness and help those with vision loss. For the Braille Institute’s students, riding on a float that’s in keeping with the Rose Parade theme, “The Melody of Life,” is also symbolic of their journey.
Braille Institute President Peter Mindich points out in an article on the Institute’s website (www.brailleinstitute.org/anaheim) that for these young students, vision loss doesn’t mean loss of doing what you love, adding that his three students inspire others through their “positivity and confidence through their musical and singing talents.”
The Rose Parade appearance of these young ambassadors is also serving as a special kick off for the Braille Institute’s centennial celebration. The Los Angeles-based nonprofit was founded in 1919 and began offering free programs and services to blind and vision-impaired Orange County residents in 1934.
Other activities marking the 100th anniversary will take place throughout the year, including the Feb. 28 grand opening of a completely made over Anaheim Center at 527 North Dale Ave. The new 14,000-square-foot center will support more than 37,000 people with vision loss through 300 classes and programs.
Evelyn’s mother and older sister plan to be among the thousands of parade-goers cheering for all the Lion’s Club float, as it proceeds down Colorado Boulevard. The Colonist community will also be applauding Evelyn for her courage and Anaheim High spirit and pride as she rides with her head held high in the 2019 Rose Parade.
(Photo courtesy of the Braille Institute)
