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New York State's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 15th Annual National Awards Program
ALBANY, N.Y. --(Business Wire)--
Christopher Lam, 17, of Old Westbury and Brianna Cart, 14, of Owego today were named New York state's top two youth volunteers for 2010 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 15th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Christopher was nominated by Jericho High School in Jericho, and Brianna was nominated by the Tioga County 4-H in Owego. As State Honorees, each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2010 at that time.
Christopher, a senior at Jericho High School, co-founded and leads an international pen pal program that provides emotional and financial support to children stricken or orphaned by AIDS in China's impoverished Henan Province. While volunteering at a Manhattan hospital in 2007, Christopher heard about an AIDS epidemic in Henan caused by the widespread distribution of tainted blood, resulting in huge numbers of AIDS orphans and HIV-positive children. He further discovered, after some research, that these children received very little help. He decided to offer his.
Christopher convened a committee of two medical professionals and three other students to help plan what became the "China AIDS International Pen Pal Program." Christopher and his committee then recruited high school students, matched them with young pen pals in Henan, solicited donations from individuals and businesses, and hosted tennis party fund-raisers. He also organized a summer trip to China to meet the children and distribute backpacks, water bottles, educational software and other items. About 400 AIDS/HIV-affected children are now enrolled in the pen pal program and are receiving services from a children's center in Henan that Christopher's fund-raising supports. "Surely there is no way we can change the mistakes of the past," said Christopher. "However, it is possible to alleviate the pain and suffering of these children and give them a chance at a brighter future."
Brianna, a home-schooled eighth-grader, started a volunteer effort four years ago that has shipped 270 boxes of snacks, toiletries, and other items, worth more than $20,000, to 345 American soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It began when Brianna overheard one of her mother's hair salon clients talking about mailing packages to soldiers. "I asked my mom if I could do that," Brianna said. She and her mother found a serviceman on a website, purchased some items, wrote a letter, and sent a package to him. When Brianna heard how grateful he was, "I began to realize how important it was to our soldiers to hear from people at home," she said.
Brianna then shipped enough supplies for all of the men in the soldier's platoon, and wanted to do even more. She formed a club of young volunteers called "Angels Over Iraq and Afghanistan," and began raising money for her shipments by hosting donation drives, teen concerts, car washes, and yard sales. She now spends an average of 20 hours a week fund-raising, shopping, and packing and mailing boxes, and has a core group of 19 young people and close to 45 local organizations helping her on a regular basis. "I've learned from the thank you letters how much the soldiers miss their homes and families, and I am grateful to be part of a group that tries to show how much we appreciate their efforts," said Brianna.
In addition, the program judges recognized eight other New York students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion:
Rebecca Allen, 17, of Roslyn Heights, a senior at Roslyn High School, founded a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $100,000 to provide treatment for people with eating disorders and educates others about the dangers of focusing excessively on body image. Rebecca, who used to suffer from an eating disorder herself, has created an informational brochure, established a website (www.theprojectheal.org), and given speeches at schools. She also has organized fund-raising events such as a benefit brunch and auction; a fashion show; and dress, T-shirt, and bracelet sales.
Aliza Neuman Hassine, 17, of Woodmere, a senior at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck, helps find educational opportunities for individuals transitioning from prison back into society. After researching prison reform organizations, Aliza volunteered for several, including the College Initiative, where she reads and responds to letters from prison inmates, creates files outlining the educational level and aspirations of each applicant, and supports former inmates who go on to receive a higher education.
Kate Herzlin, 17, of Rockville Centre, a senior at South Side High School, raises funds and community awareness as a volunteer for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Kate, a blood cancer survivor, has raised thousands of dollars during the society's fund-raising events; organized other initiatives to support the society; created an informational and donation website; given speeches about her experience; and solicited donations from family, friends, and local businesses. In addition, she currently serves as president of the Junior Board of the society's Long Island Chapter.
Julia Magley, 17, of Manlius, a senior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, raises money to send disadvantaged children from inner-city Syracuse on a weeklong summer camping experience. Julia and her sister hold fund-raising events and solicit donations at local Catholic schools and parishes, collecting $35,000 over the past several years to bus children to and from the camp, and provide a healthy breakfast, lunch, and additional food to take home at the end of the day.
Samantha Malis, 16, of Merrick, a junior at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, started a charity with her friends in 2007 that has raised more than $120,000 to rescue and care for enslaved children in Ghana, and to sponsor a weekend expedition that provided free healthcare to hundreds of needy Americans. Samantha and other volunteers design and sell bracelets, necklaces, and clothing, and educate the public about their charity and experiences by speaking at schools, community group meetings, and conferences.
Andrew Mott, 19, of Mayfield, a senior at Mayfield Junior/Senior High School, has undertaken many ambitious projects to help keep people in his community safe from fire. He purchased an old fire truck to teach fire safety to school and community groups; provided free fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and other safety items to those who could not afford them; and solicited donations to install a digital communication sign for the local fire department. Andrew also is actively involved in school and community recycling projects.
Charles Rappazzo, 17, of Castleton, a senior at the La Salle Institute in Troy, has recruited, organized, and led more than 300 volunteers in a broad array of activities to reduce illiteracy and promote literacy education, both locally and around the world. His initiative has assisted many local literacy projects, and collected books and computer equipment for a girls' school in Nigeria.
Christopher Yao, 13, of Jericho, an eighth-grader at Jericho Middle School, formed an online organization that recruits young people to participate in volunteer opportunities and causes that promote a peaceful, charitable world. He also has raised funds for Smile Train and other charitable organizations, and educated the public about foul language, homelessness, and global warming.
"People as caring and committed as these young students are critical to the future of our neighborhoods, our cities and our nation," said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. "By recognizing these honorees, we hope to encourage other young people - our future leaders - and all Americans to think more about the value and importance of volunteering in their communities."
"The young people recognized by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards demonstrate an enormous capacity for giving and reaching out to those in need," said Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "NASSP is proud to honor these student leaders because they are wonderful examples of the high caliber of young people in our nation's schools today."
All public and private middle level and high schools in the country, as well as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of HandsOn Network, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. Nearly 5,000 Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.
While in Washington, D.C., the 102 State Honorees will tour the capital's landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. In addition, 10 of them - five middle level and five high school students - will be named National Honorees on May 3 by a prestigious national selection committee. These honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit, charitable organizations of their choice.
Serving on the national selection committee will be Strangfeld of Prudential; Steven Pophal, president of NASSP; Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of the Points of Light Institute & Hands On Network; Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO of the America's Promise Alliance; Donald T. Floyd Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council; Pamela Farr, the American Red Cross' national chair of volunteers; Elson Nash, associate director for project management at the Corporation for National and Community Service; Michael Cohen, president and CEO of Achieve, Inc.; and two 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community National Honorees: Shardy Camargo of Orlando, Fla., and Colin Leslie of Rye, N.Y.
In addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program will distribute President's Volunteer Service Awards to more than 2,800 of its Local Honorees this year on behalf of President Obama. The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represent the United States' largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. Since the program began in 1995, more than 90,000 young volunteers nationwide have been honored at the local, state or national level. Many prominent public figures have assisted in saluting these honorees over the years, including President Jimmy Carter, Barbara Bush, Magic Johnson, John Glenn, Madeleine Albright, Rudy Giuliani, Whoopi Goldberg, Colin Powell, Peyton Manning, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and Laura Bush. The program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Ireland.
For information on all of this year's Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit spirit.prudential.com.
In existence since 1916, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. NASSP's mission is to promote excellence in school leadership. The National Honor Society ®, National Junior Honor Society ®, National Elementary Honor Society™, and National Association of Student Councils ® are all NASSP programs. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, Va., visit www.principals.org or call 703-860-0200.
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) is a financial services leader with operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Leveraging its heritage of life insurance and asset management expertise, Prudential is focused on helping approximately 50 million individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth. In the United States, the company's Rock symbol is an icon of strength, stability, expertise and innovation that has stood the test of time. Prudential's businesses offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.
Editors: Graphics depicting the award program's logo and medallions may be downloaded from spirit.prudential.com.
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