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The 2nd Annual Danny Awards Logan Riman Acceptance Speech

[Young man in a tuxedo playing the piano on stage at The Danny Awards}

[Danny Awards Logo on the left lower corner of the screen with text Logan Riman 2021 Danny Awards Winner and Danny Awards logo appears on the lower third of the screen.]

(Piano Music Playing)

[Logan Appears at the microphone stand center stage with his mom Leah dressed in a black evening dress holding her acceptance speech in her hand addressing the crowd.]

Leah: “My name is Leah and I’m Logan’s mom.”

Logan: “Hi, I’m Logan”

(Applause)

Leah: “Wow there really are um a lot of you and kudos to everybody getting up here but I’m a little nervous so here we go.”

Leah: “Um, first Logan and I would like to thank the Trush family and Daniel’s Music Foundation for hosting and including Logan in today’s extraordinary event.”

Logan struggles: “Thank you Daniel’s, Thank you Daniel’s Music Founda, Thank you Daniel’s Music Foundation}

(Applause)

Leah; “We are very fortunate that there are programs and events such as this that empower Logan and those like Logan to achieve and do what they were truly born to do. Logan was born visually impaired with a very rare condition called microphthalmia among other challenges and I was told he was never going to walk, or talk, or be able to feed himself, and a list of others can’t and won’ts and he never wills. But he proved everyone wrong in that he could, and he would…”

Logan giggles: “And I did!”

Leah smiling: “And you did”

(Applause)

Leah: “When Logan was a baby I literally stood over his crib as he slept, crying and wondering what life would have in store for us. A frightened young first-time mom, who had such dreams for her son like any ordinary parent does. And even his daily life was far from easy. And we encountered challenges and set-backs what seemed like everywhere we went, I never stopped dreaming big for him.”

Logan: “Momma said dream big.”

(Applause)

Leah: “Literally from infancy it was so evident that Logan loved music and as we had appointment after appointment, therapy after therapy, surgery after surgery, and he was being poked and prodded, music has always been the one thing that calmed him down and brought him comfort. And at the age of 2 he started playing the piano. Well it was actually like a baby keyboard that got him started probably, but he would duplicate all the cute little nursery rhymes that we know. And our keyboards quickly grew into a piano by age 4. Music changed his life. The piano…”

Logan: “My best friend”

Leah: “His best friend, his constant companion and through the gift of music education and pure love of music he went from playing Mary Had A Little Lamb, to some of the greatest nocturnes and waltzes by Mozart and Chopan. Logan has brought me on this adventure with him and allowed me to experience some once in a lifetime opportunities with him that I otherwise would never experience, and that includes today. He has been fortunate to play on some pretty amazing stages at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, and even Carnegie Hall.”

Logan: “And I’m just getting started.”

(Applause)

Leah smiles: “And he’s just getting started! I always tell Logan that I will always be in one of three places: in front of him…”

Logan: “To cheer me on…”

Leah: “Behind him…”

Logan: “Because you always got my back”

Leah: “That’s right…and next to him…”

Logan struggles: :So that I’m, so that I’m, so that I’m, so that I’m never alone.”

Leah: “That’s right.”

Leah: “Today I consider myself privileged to stand beside you Logan, as you are being honored. I am beyond lucky that you call me momma. I’m very proud of you every single day…”

(Applause)

Leah crying: “For the amazing human that you are. For your strength, for your courage, and for the fact that you are always smiling, no matter what. I love you. I’ve told this story before but a long time ago, once of his educators asked me “What would you label your child”. I said: “I labeled him Logan, he’s smart, he’s funny, he’s lovable, why do I have to label him anything at all?” So today I label him…”

Logan: “Incredible”

Leah: “Incredible”

(Applause)

Leah: “As is everyone up here being honored today, thank you again Daniel’s Music Foundation, we look forward to the rest of the performances and are grateful to be part of an organization that is truly committed to proving what music without limits really means.”

Logan: “Thank you everyone”

Leah: “Thank you”

(Applause)

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