The 9-year-old author of ‘Chocolate Bar’ speaks to kids and teachers at events across the country, including West Hartford’s Aiken Elementary School.

Aiken student Adam Gold (left, in Chocolate Bar shirt) with 9-year-old author and fundraiser Dylan Siegel at Aiken School. Submitted photo

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Dylan Siegel told the audience of students and teachers at Aiken Elementary School that “anyone can make a difference.”

Dylan is a 9-year-old philanthropist from Los Angeles and author of “Chocolate Bar,” the self-published picture book he wrote at the age of 6 after his best friend Jonah was diagnosed with Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD) Type 1b. Sales of Dylan’s book have raised well over $1 milliion dollars to fund research to find a cure for GSD. Most recently, Kidscreen Magazine named Dylan one of the Top 20 Kids Under 20 and the youngest on the list that also includes Malala Yousafzai, Amandla Stenberg, Binidi Irwin and Zendaya.

With a message of social good to spread, on Friday, Feb. 26, Dylan spoke with hundreds of students and teachers to share his story in hopes of inspiring great deeds and social good.

Dylan Siegel at Aiken School. Submitted photo

Interim Principal Shannon Mlodzinski jumped at the chance to bring Dylan and his message to Aiken. “You could truly feel the excitement throughout the building for the rest of the day. As I visited classrooms students were asking for more order forms (to purchase Dylan’s book), brainstorming ideas on how they too can change the world and were writing about what Dylan’s story meant to them,” she said proudly.

Dylan’s million dollar milestone, first announced by David Muir on ABC World News, has now climbed to $1,200,000 raised and 30,000 books sold in over 60 countries and every state in the union – an impressive milestone for anyone, let alone a child.

Written and published in late 2012, “Chocolate Bar” was first sold to family and friends and is now available at events throughout the country and online at www.chocolatebarbook.com. One hundred percent of all proceeds are donated to the University of Florida, where research is underway to help find a cure for GSD Type 1b.

“I am so happy we passed our million dollar goal but I’m not stopping until every child is cured,” said Dylan Siegel, author of “Chocolate Bar.” “I am thankful to schools everywhere for letting me share my story and inspire kids to change the world!”

“’Chocolate Bar’ has become a movement to inspire children everywhere and show them they have power and a voice,” said Debra Siegel, Dylan’s mother. “’Chocolate Bar Talks’ help kids realize their potential and what better place than elementary schools to share Dylan’s ‘Chocolate Bar’ vision.”

For more information about “Chocolate Bar,” please visit www.chocolatebarbook.com. To keep up-to-date on the latest news from Dylan, Jonah and “Chocolate Bar,” follow “Chocolate Bar” on Facebook and on Instagram at www.chocolatebarbook.com/sochocolatebar and Twitter at www.twitter.com/sochocolatebar and to subscribe to the YouTube Channel: http://goo.gl/TKPhJf. Shop for sweet products at www.chocolatebarbook.com/store.

Submitted photo