| Interviews - Teen People |
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20 Teens Who Will Change the World (April 2003, Teen People magazine)
David Gallagher, 18. Actor, autism activist; Los Angeles Role of a Lifetime: "I play Simon on 7th Heaven, and while a lot of actors credit themselves with making a difference through acting, that wasn't enough for me. So last summer I became youth ambassador for Cure Autism Now (CAN). I raise awareness about autism [a developmental disability that causes difficulties in communication] and money to help find a cure." Motivation: "My little brother Killian Casey was diagnosed with autism three years ago. That made it personal. I told CAN's director, 'I'm not the biggest celebrity, but I'll do anything.'" Best Performance: "One time I spoke at a banquet in Seattle and it was a little nerve-racking. But I spoke from the heart and talked about my relationship with my brother. People said my speech made them cry. We raised more than $200, 000." Brotherly Love: "I admire my brother a lot. He's six now, and his new thing is to play follow the leader with me. He has never lost his smile. That's something everyone can aspire to." How He'll Change the World: "There's virtually no U.S. government money going to autism research. If I can do anything to help find a cure, then I will have helped my brother and others like him more than I could have imagined." |