'American Idol' Finalist and Hickory Records Artist Elliott Yamin to Serve as a Global Ambassador for Inspired by Diabetes Campaign to Help Children wit...( Rising pop artist encourages people...),Health

Rising pop artist encourages people affected by diabetes to enter global contest supporting children in developing nations and camp scholarships for

kids with diabetes in the US

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- "American Idol" finalist and rising Hickory Records recording artist Elliott Yamin -- whose U.S. tour kicked off this month -- is joining the Inspired by Diabetes global campaign to support the care of children in developing nations.

Yamin, who has type 1 diabetes, will serve as a Global Ambassador to promote the Inspired by Diabetes Creative Expression Competition, a global and national contest asking people with diabetes, as well as their family and friends, to express how diabetes has had an impact on their lives -- and share those stories with others around the world through art, essay, poetry, photography and music.

By entering the competition, participants can have a direct impact on the lives of children with diabetes around the world.

For each entry, global champion Eli Lilly and Company will donate funds to the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child program, which provides life-saving diabetes supplies to more than 500 children in 13 developing countries. And for every entry received in the United States, Lilly will also contribute funds toward diabetes youth outreach initiatives in the U.S., through scholarships for American Diabetes Association camps.

Yamin was a finalist on "American Idol" Season 5 and has been on a meteoric rise since launching his self-titled debut album in spring 2007. His first single, "Wait for You," reached the Top 3 of the Billboard Pop 200 chart, has been a top five single for 10 weeks and spent 8 weeks at No. 1 on the VH1 "V-Spot" video countdown. The single is also close to achieving "gold" status with nearly 700,000 units sold. Yamin's U.S. tour began Oct. 5.

In addition to promoting the contest, Yamin will serve as a judge for entrie
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