Anna Price, 17, of Columbia and John Ward, 13, of Chapin today were
named South Carolina's top two youth volunteers of 2015 by The
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring
young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Anna was nominated by
Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, and John was nominated by
Chapin Middle School in Chapin. The Prudential Spirit of Community
Awards, now in its 20th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in
partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals
(NASSP).
Anna, a junior at Richland Northeast High School, shares her story of
surviving a brain tumor to raise awareness and money for a variety of
organizations that serve kids with cancer. In 2008, Anna was diagnosed
with a brain tumor on her optic nerves. She underwent 14 months of
chemotherapy and is now legally blind. “Before my brain tumor, community
service was something I did, but it wasn’t a passion the way it is now,”
she said. “I decided to use my situation as a springboard for community
service. I want to return the kindness shown to me while I was in
treatment.”
Since her treatment ended, Anna has been asked to participate in many
different events that benefit sick children. She served as a mentor and
hostess at a prom for kids with cancer, addressed motorcycle riders at a
fundraising ride for a brain tumor foundation, promoted a college dance
marathon that raises money for a children’s hospital, and helps sell
promotional items at events that support pediatric cancer research. She
also has spoken to members of South Carolina’s General Assembly about
blindness, led a toy drive for hospitalized children, and coordinated a
mini-dance marathon at her high school that generated more than $2,000.
“Having somebody there to help you in your time of need is truly a
blessing, and I want to offer that blessing to other people,” Anna said.
John, an eighth-grader at Chapin Middle School, has raised $1,500 by
selling pink prayer bracelets to help a young mother in his community
with advanced breast cancer. Three years ago when John’s mother was
homeroom mom for his brother’s class, she called a new family that had
arrived recently from out of state and learned that the mother of the
family had been diagnosed with cancer shortly after moving to John’s
town. “She knew no one here, so my family and I decided to help out,”
said John. “We helped arrange meals, we invited them over for
Thanksgiving, and looked after her four kids whenever she could not.”
But John wanted to do more. That opportunity came one Christmas when he
and his brothers received a rubber-band bracelet-making kit. John came
up with the idea of raising money for the family and increasing breast
cancer awareness by making and handing out pink prayer bracelets.
He and his brothers began making “tons” of bracelets. John sent out text
blasts and emails to invite friends to help at work parties on Friday
afternoons. Then he and his brothers started handing out their “Bandz of
Hope” in front of a local toy store. They did not charge for the
bracelets but asked for donations. John said all the money he has
collected goes directly to help the woman and her family in their fight
against her disease. He vowed to continue to make his bracelets as long
as she needs his help. “I would tell other people like me that it feels
good to help others and it is the right thing to do,” said John. “I
might not be able to cure cancer now, but I sure can make a difference
by financially helping one lady fight breast cancer.”
As State Honorees, Anna and John 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 2015.
Distinguished Finalists
The program judges also recognized four other South Carolina students as
Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service
activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.
These are South Carolina's Distinguished Finalists for 2015:
Makiah Belk, 18, of Columbia, S.C., a senior at Irmo High School,
volunteered to help build and maintain a garden that provides food for
the children at a local middle school. Makiah, who had previously
attended a service trip to assist people living in poverty in Nicaragua,
recruited several friends to help during the summer to plow, compost,
weed, plant, water and harvest the garden.
Logan Fettes, 17, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., a senior at Hilton
Head Island High School, founded “Operation Sunshine” in 2011, a service
project to help spread “rays of comfort, joy, happiness and hope,” and
since then has involved friends and family to help with various service
projects including distributing stuffed animals to hospitalized children
and tornado victims, collecting suitcases filled with toys and books for
children in third world countries, and distributing sleeping bags and
blankets for the homeless. Logan was inspired to serve by watching his
brother fight a chronic illness.
Brittany Joyce, 18, of Hartsville, S.C., a senior at Hartsville
High School, is developing a unique community project she calls “PERK,
Police Encouraging Responsibility and Kindness,” which will involve
local patrol and school resource officers identifying kids who are doing
great things and rewarding them with recognition and gift certificates
to local businesses. Brittany, who began the program in response to a
fraudulent criminal incident in her town that created false perceptions
about both the police and local residents, hopes her program will foster
trust between the police and local youth by encouraging positive
interactions.
Shea Thomas, 17, of Pawleys Island, S.C., a member of the
American Red Cross Eastern South Carolina in Myrtle Beach and a senior
at Academy for Arts, Science & Technology, has raised $11,000 for the
American Red Cross as a member of the Red Cross Rescue Racers, a
nonprofit charity marathon training team. Shea not only runs in the race
but has secured matching donations and gifts for giveaways from local
businesses while also coordinating a fundraising dinner to help meet her
goal of $10,000.
“Prudential is honored to celebrate the contributions of these
remarkable young volunteers,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John
Strangfeld. “By shining a spotlight on the difference they’ve made in
their communities, we hope others are inspired to volunteer, too.”
“These students have not only improved their communities through their
exemplary volunteer service, but also set a fine example for their
peers,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. “Each of
their stories is proof of the impact one young person can have when they
decide to make a difference.”
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 4, 10 of the State Honorees –
five middle level and five high school students – will be named
America’s top youth volunteers of 2015. 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 voice for middle level and high school
principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the
United States and 35 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 2015