TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -
Christina-Taylor Green, the youngest victim in last year's January 8th shootings, represents many things for people all over the world today. As the Green family still works to heal, they've tried to make their daughter's name synonymous with hope.
At a book signing today, Christina-Taylor's mother, Roxanna, talked about a new partnership with a New York based foundation hoping to reach, and influence children all over the country with a message dedicated to and inspired by Christina-Taylor.
Roxanna Green says the past year has been overwhelming but therapeutic. From CNN to the Rose Parade, a tragedy, and now a book tour has made the Green family and Christina-Taylor a household name.
"Christina, ever since she was very, very little, always said, 'I'm going to grow up to be a star,'" Green said of her daughter.
And while not the star she likely imagined, today, she is a star, and the Green's want their daughter's legacy to live on, in part through Green's book, "As Good As She Imagined."
Green says writing the book was "... very painful. There were dark, dark days and times we had to stop and take a break."
The book is deeply personal, and introduces Christina-Taylor as determined and kind, a nine year old born on 9/11 and killed on January 8th. A young girl whose message will now be part of the New York Says Thank You Foundation's "9/12 Generation Project."
"People always say tragedies sometimes bring out the best in humanity, and that's true," Jeff Parness, the founder of N.Y. Says Thank You said. "We experienced that on 9/12."
The project focuses not on tragedy, but on the unity and patriotism that comes from tragedies like 9/11, and January 8th.
"She was uniquely aware as a young child about the importance of getting involved in your community, volunteering and service, leadership, and how government works," Parness said.
So they've dedicated the film to Christina-Taylor, and the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation has donated $50,000 to help put the movie into every public middle school in Arizona and New York City, plus one public middle school in every state.
"What they're doing as an organization and group even getting children, grandparents involved, it's just going to make our country a better place," Green said.
Follow the link to watch the movie: http://main.aol.com/2011/09/02/911-anniversary_n_946422.html
For more on the New York Says Thank You Foundation: http://newyorksaysthankyou.org/
For more on the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation: http://www.christina-taylorgreen.org/Sit_1./Welcome.html
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