Maickel Melamed is Named “Good for You Ambassador”

Maickel Melamed is Named “Good for You Ambassador”
New York, United States 11/9/2011

The Venezuelan athlete was recognized for his career path, personal excellence and for being an endless source of inspiration and positivism.

For the inspiration that his discipline, dedication and motivation gives to Latin American youth, First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández named Venezuelan athlete Maickel Melamed as “Good for You Ambassador,”

For the inspiration that his discipline, dedication and motivation gives to Latin American youth, First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández named Venezuelan athlete Maickel Melamed as “Good for You Ambassador,” a recognition that the First Lady’s Office began to give as part of the National Strategy for Values.

“Maickel represents the triumph of the human spirit over circumstances, an inspiring example for many people who face seemingly insurmountable challenges every day,” said the visibly emotional Cedeño de Fernández in recognizing the athlete who participated in the 2011 New York Marathon.

The First Lady said that it was very satisfying to give the first of these recognitions to a person who by example has taught that placing limits on possibilities only causes one to give up the right to work on bettering the world, a person whose life commitment is to help each person know and develop their full potential.

“Maickel, for your life’s career path, your personal excellence and for being an endless source of inspiration and positivism, so highly needed in these times, we the Dominican people recognize you as a Good for You Ambassador, because you represent the values that make the world better,” said Cedeño de Fernández in awarding him the recognition plaque.

At 36 years of age and even though his life expectancy at birth was almost nil, Melamed today is an economist at the Andrés Bello Catholic University and a trained Gestalt psychotherapist. He works on helping and inspiring human beings, communities and organizations. He has practiced extreme sports including paragliding, parachuting, diving and mountaineering and he has participated in 7 and 10-kilometer races.

Upon receiving the plaque, the Venezuelan athlete said that he had decided to make a space in his tight training schedule because he understands the importance of discussing values and planting values in human beings. “We do this because of the possibility that people will be motivated by what we do. If we manage to inspire one person, then we are not doing badly. If this inspires you then we are on the right track,” he stressed.

Good For You Ambassadorships are part of the National Strategy for Values that the First Lady’s Office has been carrying out since October of last year, promoting values such as solidarity, honesty, responsibility, dignity, integrity, peace, social justice, and others.

At the event, Dr. Cedeño de Fernández also interacted with the Dominican men and women who will participate in the 2011 New York Marathon, one of the most important marathons in the world.

Called “Good for You” (Bien por ti), the activity aims to highlight and promote the efforts, discipline, perseverance and courage of each one of the participants. The First Lady was accompanied by the Consul General of New York Máximo Corcino and the Extraordinary Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Organization Héctor Virgilio Alcántara.