Colin Humble, 18, of Marietta and Remington Youngblood, 12, of Duluth
today were named Georgia's top two youth volunteers of 2014 by The
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring
young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Colin was nominated
by Walton High School in Marietta, and Remington was nominated by
Riverwatch Middle School in Suwanee. The Prudential Spirit of Community
Awards, now in its 19th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in
partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals
(NASSP).
Colin, a senior at Walton High School, helped start an outreach program
at his church that provides essential items to homeless veterans,
distributes food to families in need, serves a weekly hot meal, and
reconditions bicycles to help the homeless get around. On a cold night
when he was a young boy, Colin attended a football game with his father
and saw a group of men huddling around a campfire near the stadium.
Colin wondered what they were doing, and his father explained that they
probably had nowhere else to go. Throughout the game, Colin pondered the
lives of these men and afterward insisted that his dad buy hamburgers
for them. Years later, when a priest expressed interest in starting an
outreach program for homeless veterans, Colin knew he wanted to take a
leadership role in “My Brother’s Keeper.”
When the program started in 2011, Colin’s first task was to help fill
100 backpacks with 15 useful items such as clothing, blankets,
flashlights and toiletries for the homeless. Since then, his involvement
has grown to include buying, sorting, storing and delivering food,
serving weekly hot meals, and helping to collect and repair used
bicycles for people who have no other form of transportation. Colin also
has recruited more than 40 other volunteers to join the effort. Today,
“My Brother’s Keeper” distributes 100-150 backpacks before Christmas
every year, feeds dozens of homeless veterans and others every week,
provides groceries twice a month to more than 60 families, and has
delivered over 100 reconditioned bicycles to people in need in his
community. Colin said his work with the homeless is both gratifying and
difficult. “The most memorable part is when I look in their eyes, hand
them food, shake their hand, and wish them well in the coming week,” he
said. But “it’s hard to get back in the truck and go home to my
comfortable life.”
Remington, a seventh-grader at Riverwatch Middle School, established a
nonprofit organization that has collected more than $50,000 in cash and
donated items to soldiers, veterans and their families. A couple of
years ago, Remington was looking for a way to serve his community.
“After calling 15 different places, I discovered my age was a major
roadblock,” he said. “I finally asked my mom if I could start my own
program.” Remington’s mother advised him that starting his own project
would require a lot of dedication, but said that if he would commit, she
would help him. As the great-grandson of a Marine who fought in World
War II, Remington decided to focus his efforts on soldiers and veterans.
“They deserve our thoughts, prayers, and help, and I am here to give
them all three,” he said.
After filing papers to form a nonprofit called “Change4Georgia,”
Remington persuaded his principal to let him conduct a donation drive at
his school. Then he and his mother called and sent emails to other
schools until 14 had agreed to conduct their own drives. Remington also
sent letters to companies and visited local businesses to solicit
donations. Remington also recruited a committee of 34 students to plan
fundraising events including a car wash, pool party, movie night and
fashion show. To further publicize his cause, Remington speaks at
gatherings throughout the Southeast about the need to support soldiers
and veterans. So far, “Change4Georgia” has brought in more than $50,000
in cash, food, clothing and personal items for service personnel and
their families. Remington also has started a scholarship fund for
veterans who go back to school.
As State Honorees, Colin and Remington 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 four days of national
recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America’s
top youth volunteers of 2014.
Distinguished Finalists
The program judges also recognized six other Georgia students as
Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service
activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.
These are Georgia's Distinguished Finalists for 2014:
Alyssa Howard, 14, of Roswell, Ga., an eighth-grader at Crabapple
Middle School, founded “Kids Who Care” in 2010 and has since raised more
than $4,000 to support a variety of causes. Alyssa, who recruited a team
of 13 volunteers to join her mission, has helped to raise money for
cystic fibrosis research, collected clothing for people in need, raised
$500 for the American Cancer Society, and distributed bags of candy to
American troops.
Lauren Ladouceur, 16, of Peachtree City, Ga., a member of the
Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and a junior at McIntosh High School,
founded “Love2Haiti,” a nonprofit organization that has raised more than
$1,000 and gifts in kind to support a sewing trade school for girls in
Haiti. Lauren, who has collected and delivered fabric, sewing notions
and school books to the Foundation Severe d’Haiti, also created a
website and a Facebook page through which she sells the products made by
the girls and returns the profits.
Nina Manuel, 15, of Rome, Ga., a sophomore at Unity Christian
School, founded “Share-A-Bear” in the spring of 2013 and has since made
and donated 180 teddy bears to hospitalized children. Nina, who started
her project to raise money for her Relay for Life team, sells her
handmade bears and donates $10 to charity and makes an extra bear to
donate for every bear she sells.
Madison Murphy, 17, of Duluth, Ga., a senior at Peachtree Ridge
High School, helped to raise $17,500 to support the American Cancer
Society’s Relay for Life by coordinating a Color Run involving six
schools. Madison created and maintained an event website, posted flyers,
secured sponsorships, handled logistics with the principals and had 570
registered runners and 200 volunteers for the event.
Haley Patterson, 17, of Rome, Ga., a member of the YMCA of Rome
Floyd County and a senior at Armuchee High School, has reinvigorated a
faith-based service program called “Mission is Possible,” and currently
leads the organization’s community service projects. Since 2008, Haley
has helped to organize service opportunities including a gym program for
children with special needs, a haunted house for a local food pantry,
and a cornerstone event, “Jesus in the Park,” to feed and clothe more
than 4,000 people.
Rachel Van Dyke, 18, of Suwanee, Ga., a senior at Lambert High
School, founded “Special Twist,” a nonprofit, co-ed cheerleading team
for children ages 4 and older who have intellectual and developmental
disabilities. Rachel, whose brother has Down syndrome and has been
Rachel’s inspiration, also serves as coach and choreographer for the
team.
“We applaud each of these young people for their exemplary volunteer
service,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “They use
their time and talents to make a meaningful difference in their
communities, and we hope their example inspires others to do the same.”
“By going above and beyond in their volunteer service, these students
have brought positive change to communities across the country,” said
JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “Congratulations to each
and every one of them on this well-deserved honor.”
About The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represents the United States’
largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. 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 HandsOn Network affiliates, were eligible to select
a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award.
These Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel,
which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on
criteria including personal initiative, effort, impact and personal
growth.
While in Washington, D.C., the 102 State Honorees – one middle level and
one high school student from each state and the District of Columbia –
will tour the capital’s landmarks, meet top youth volunteers from other
parts of the world, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian’s
National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional
representatives on Capitol Hill. On May 5, 10 of the State Honorees –
five middle level and five high school students – will be named
America’s top youth volunteers of 2014. These National 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.
Since the program began in 1995, more than 100,000 young volunteers have
been honored at the local, state and national level. The program also is
conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan,
Ireland, India and China. In addition to granting its own awards, The
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program also distributes
President’s Volunteer Service Awards to qualifying Local Honorees on
behalf of President Barack Obama.
For information on all of this year’s Prudential Spirit of Community
State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit http://spirit.prudential.com
or www.nassp.org/spirit.
About NASSP
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the
leading organization of and national voice for middle level and high
school principals, assistant principals, and all school leaders from
across the United States and more than 36 countries around the world.
The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy,
research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of
all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens
school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high
quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing
commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National
Honor Society, National
Junior Honor Society, National
Elementary Honor Society, and National
Association of Student Councils. For more information about
NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.nassp.org.
About Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has
operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping
individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth
through a variety of products and services, including life insurance,
annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment
management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for
strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century.
For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.
Editors: For full-color pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards
program logo and medallions, click here: http://bit.ly/Xi4oFW
Copyright Business Wire 2014