Ty Pennington: Harnessing The Power of Celebrity For ADHD
Say what you will about celebrity news, sometimes a good cause can use the publicity generated from a celebrity spokesperson. New Orleans reconstruction has Brad Pitt. Parkinson Disease has Michael J. Fox.
But how many in the general public know about Adult ADHD? Until now that is! Because Ty Pennington of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition™ has recently announced the establishment of a $10,000 scholarship to be awarded to an adult with ADD/ADHD.
Yes! I found it pretty amazing too – and a breath of fresh air.
The award is called “Daily Successes with ADHD Scholarship.†It’s presented to an adult with ADD/ADHD who is entering a creative pursuit of study at Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. The student needs to be currently enrolled in the school, applying to it or enrolled in the graduate program.
The scholarship, by the way, is sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Shire, and the timing of the announcement (not surprisingly!) is tied to the company’s introduction of its medication VYVANSE for the treatment of adults with ADD/ADHD.
Pennington, by the way, is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, the location of the school and has ADD/ADHD himself.
Say what you will about the giant drug companies – we all have our opinions. Say what you want about the celebrity’s support of the “cause of the day.†Pennington’s tying his announcement of this scholarship has allowed the general public to at least be aware of the existence of adult ADHD. And that’s a good thing – if only a first step!
If you’re an adult suffering from this disorder, it’s nice to be able to look at Ty and say “He succeeded – and so can I.†And if you’re the parent of a child with ADD/ADHD, Ty becomes an important role model. The next time you and your child see him on TV, you can tell your child, “Ty Pennington has ADD/ADHD and he’s no failure. You can be as successful as you want!â€
Yeah, perhaps celebrity news isn’t all bad after all.
It would be great if we could get some more celebrities to share their successes (and personal struggles) with ADHD.
Dr. Kenny
Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, Ty Pennington, Extreme Home Makeover
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Written by Dr. Kenny Handelman - The ADHD Doctor
To find get a FREE special report on ADD/ADHD Medication, visit: Medication Mastery
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