Hi Melinda,

I'm Arabella Uhry and I was featured on Young People Who Rock in October. I'm 11.

This past summer my family took a trip to South Africa and we had to take malaria prevention, a medication called Malarone. It costs only pennies a day to produce this medication and it is almost 100% effective. We saw many people who had had malaria in South Africa and Swaziland, particularly in and around the game parks where it is rampant. If people had seen what I saw, they would know that your cause may not be fashionable, but it is essential. Congratulations for the wonderful work you do. In my mind, you won American Idol and are winnng with helping to eliminate malaria.

Love from
Arabella Uhry (the fencer)

What an amazing journey Melinda Doolittle is embarking on! She has been an inspiration to so many who are longing to break free of the confining boundaries of comfort zones and allow God to accomplish things much bigger than they dreamed. Our world needs more warriors like Melinda to help put a face to causes that are tremendous and somewhat overwhelming. I, too, have been to Africa and have seen the devastation of so much poverty and pain, but have also seen first hand what a ray of hope just one person who refuses to let poverty, AIDS, sickness, etc. have its way can bring to so many. My question for Melinda is: Do you have future plans to help see your goal of seeing malaria eradicated around the globe?

Keep pressing in and pressing on. May the seed planted during your trip this summer continue to grow and change more lives in the process.

Greetings from yet another YPWR! I had the daunting task of following you at the Learning 2007 Convention in Orlando. Both you and the Malaria No More presentation at the convention inspired me to donate 25 bed nets. It's so simple and I know it will make such a huge difference. Thanks for reminding people that every little bit helps. Keep on being amazing!
Jen

She has a very humble appearance but within her is solid as a rock. We wish her all the best for a "casue" as well as for "celebre".

Good for you Melinda. You are certainly an idol. I hope other celebreties follow your footstep in doing positive things around here and around the world.

Melinda has jumped up on my list of people to look up to. Not only is she talented, but she put her talent to good use. It's about time people started to realize that music devoid of sex, deragatory themes and looks is the largest gateway to genuine care for others: compassion and healing for the soul through joy, laughter and comforting words.
Go girl!
Lisejoan

It is inspiring to see a truly genuine young woman not allow herself to be taken in by the trappings of celebrity. She is an inspiration.

Thanks Ms. Doolitle for your continual interest in Africa, and in Malaria.

I hope we can find the funds to begin manufacturing of the anti-malaria drugs in Africa, at prices the developing countries can afford. Dr. Bannor

If Melinda Dolittle would just produce an album and donate the money to stopping malaria, she could raise money for the cause and bring awareness to it at the same time. There are millions of us out there who would buy anything she produced in a heartbeat. She was by far the most talented singer American idol has ever had. Please, please don't deprive us of that amazing God-given voice.

Melinda's involvement in such a worthy cause speaks volume - it is not all about the celebrity status and the grand platform the world can offer. It is really all about using that platform toward a worthy cause. Melinda, you are the real IDOL.

Congratulations Melina for winning the competition of life...by this i mean following your true dreams. I am from Africa and want to thank you for dealing with this ever threatening disease which really needs to be addressed. My question however is:how do you plan to educate the people on this disease. Throwing nets will not cut it. They have to understand the reason behind the net and how it can help protect them form mosquito bits. Also include the need for proper medication and immediate treatment when possible. Most of all Malaria and mosquito breeding is caused by bad roads with potholes that habour breeding, terribly maintained lakes and rivers, I think a mention of the government's responsibility will help.

Beautiful inside and out, Ms. Doolittle.

Melinda is a true "American Idol".
She is not only a gifted singer, she has a pure heart. You "go" girl--you should have won idol!
I am sure you are the "Idol" in many American's hearts.

I applaud Melinda for her humanitarian work. In all honesty
her talent is so outstanding and unforgettable that I am waiting for
her to burst upon the music scene
outshining everyone. She is the female Michael Buble. Thats a thought,Buble and Doolittle.
Wow!!!

What a talent. Waiting to hear more from her. Far far above the crowd.

I remember Melinda from good 'ol Union HS in Tulsa, OK. I recall talking to Melinda one day and in passing she mentioned that she had won a singing competition. The winner would get to sing with Whitney Houston! Melinda politely declined as the "powers that be" would not let her sing any gospel music. Melinda has gone on to prove that by trusting in your faith, the Lord will lead you down amazing roads!

HI Melinda
I understand the urgent need to prevent malaria and its outcomes in developing countries. I grew up in nigeria and i know and felt what it means to have malaria. But my question is how do you plan on eradicating malaria, been that malaria is not a person to person transmission. Prevention is a key factor in eliminating the cause and outcomes of malaria. Just so you malaria can be seasonal for example, its more prevalent during the rainy and wet season in most african counties. So if you really want tp eradicate malaria as you start with getting rid of stagnant water where that mosquitoes breed and also the bed net also helps in the night and people do have to mnove around during the daytime. So get moer info on malaria and i wish you good luck

Maybe she could expend that eneregy to affect change in America? Why Africa when we have so many problems in our own country?

In response to the common theme: "Maybe she could expend that eneregy to affect change in America? Why Africa when we have so many problems in our own country?", let me say that in America we have a very strong safety net compared to the poorest nations, that our average life expectancy is almost twice that of the poorest nations, and that we don't have 30,000 people dying EVERY DAY because they are too poor to live, as continues to happen in Africa. To quote Mia Farrow, "With Knowledge Comes Responsibility", and I've been moved to get involved in doing what I can, and trying to get others to get involved as well. You can learn more about our effort on www.schoolinsudan.org. P.S. My young daughters, wife and I are big fans of Melinda since Idol, and even more so now!

I would sugest that you talk to African government as well to learn to care about their people. It's a big obstacle for anything you might want to do.
Some have enough sources to completly eliminate Malaria.

Hi Melinda,

As an African who has suffered Malaria all my life, i think you are God given. All people want to help Africa with Aids but they forget that people with Aids are dying mostly because of Malaria. please try to educate these people who want to assist Africa that once malaria is eradicated, aids will be tackeled easly. Weldone our girl. We hope other Idols like you will use the chance in good cause rather than having faces uplifted.

Ms. Doolittle is an excellent reminder to all of us that entertainers are people first and performers by choice. Melinda's clarion call to help eliminate malaria should strike a chord in each of us to care for others less fortunate.

How good is that? When an contestant like Dolittle who finished 3rd at american idol gives of her time,resouces and energy to help others is so refreshing in an age of self-centerness and materialisam.You go girl!
Jim Martenson

Sean Tripline, here! I think she is doing the right thing. In America, we do have many problems. But however, we already have the resources and power to help ourselves. Our problems are nothing in comparison to the problems in Africa. We spend money to find a cure for cancer, but people over there dying daily from MOSQUITO BITES and can't even live to the age in which most are affected by cancer. Big difference. But I agree with the other blogger, she needs to sing. She has the national spotlight now, and her good causes will be fueled by her singing career. They go hand-and-hand.

While I appreciate persons who use their celebrity to aid various causes I sure wish celebrities would invest millions into areas of our OWN county first. It amazes me the way many talk about the devastation on the Gulf Coast but then send millions to Africa...

Two words: Class act! Way to go Melinda.

I have a question for Melinda.
Would you be willing to risk the use of DDT to help rid the country of malaria? I grew up using DDT, as did many of my age, and I still believe the benefits far outweigh the dangers. It certainly would put an end to the problem and, in my opinion, its benefits far outweigh the dangers. Even more so, now that I know my own government is not to be trusted with honesty to its people.
I, too, would like more attention focussed on the problems in our own country, but, alas and alack, that isn't popular.
Please, make music! You are AWESOME!
Thank you,
Jenny

Melinda, you are a wonderful, wonderful human being. You are so down-to-earth, natural, and graceful. I applaued what you are doing, and keep it up! We need more generous, impressive, and talented souls like you out there!!!

Melinda, hands down, you should have been our "American Idol", and whatever you sing, we would gratefully audience. Supporting A.I. after you werent chosen will be very difficult, as something went very wrong. God has given you the gift of voice, and I pray you will use it to His plan. I agree with another commentor that you should produce a CD and give proceeds to this and other causes. Tithing of course, but get going on cutting albums, for you are depriving us of hearing one of God's true heavenly Angels here on earth. God bless you and keep up His good work. Love, A HUGE FAN IN FLORIDA (-:

Go Melinda! NufSaid.<3

Melinda,
You rock !! I have suffered from Malaria and i know it kills. The medicine Quinine has so many side-effects, it can be devastating. My sister who was given Malaria medication for over two months suffered kidney failure. Malaria is my number one enemy. I am all for eradicating it. Bravo Melinda, God Bless Your Cause.

Melinda Doolittle doing really Good. She did releases her first song on i tunes My Funny Valentine. Soon will released her first album June of 2008. Now i think time to focus on her career and support her. We have website www.melindafan.net who we get a radio blog talk show with her the third times. If you want to join us and support her come to join us.