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The Prudential Spirit of Community Award
What can a young volunteer do? There are literally millions of opportunities to make an important difference in the lives of others. Following are more than 300 specific projects that have actually been carried out over the past several years by young people who have won Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Perhaps their activities will give you some ideas as to what you can do in your own neighborhood or town to help make life better for someone else.
Samantha Facciolo of Wilmington, Del., tutored seven Mexican immigrant children in English and spent a year helping their families settle into the community by providing them with essential items and access to community services.
Matthew LeSage of Knoxville, Tenn., established "Hams for the Hungry," a program that raised more than $20,000 over two years to provide Easter meals to nearly 5,000 hungry families.
Amber Coffman of Glen Burnie, Md. prepared bag lunches and distributed them to homeless people on the streets of Baltimore.
Jamie Liles of Henderson, Ky. chaired a community campaign that collected coats and eyeglasses for the needy.
Sagen Woolery of Warner Robins, Ga. started a summer meal service for needy children and their families, operated completely by 8-to-12-year-olds.
Shifra Mincer of Manhattan, N.Y. went to a community soup kitchen every week to assist those in need by mending their clothing and the bags they used to carry their belongings.
Lakeshia Wallace of Washington, D.C. initiated a project to deliver home-cooked meals to the homeless during the cold fall and winter months.
Mia Yocopis of Phoenix, Ariz. started a youth-run volunteer organization that helps non-English-speaking refugees obtain healthcare, food, jobs and other essentials after they arrive in the U.S.
Emily Tobler of Orem, Utah prepared 50 brown-bag lunches once a month for a local homeless shelter to distribute to her community's neediest people.
Tim Moore of Hemet, Calif. helped build homes for low-income families through Habitat for Humanity.
Justin Carroll of Wynne, Ark. and Philip Kurian of North Charleston, S.C. founded chapters of Habitat for Humanity at their schools.
Jonathan Hoffenberg of Phoenix, Ariz. coordinated a food service that prepared and served dinner once a week to indigent people in a local school.
Elisabeth Charnley of Barrington, R.I. assisted families at a homeless shelter by holding a bake sale to buy needed items, obtaining gift certificates from local restaurants, babysitting children so their parents could go to school, and delivering food, toys, books, and clothing.
David Levitt of Seminole, Fla. persuaded his school district to start donating unused food to an organization that supplies food to the homeless.
Meghan McGinty of Brooklyn, N.Y. directed an annual Thanksgiving food drive and sit-down dinner for residents of a local homeless shelter.
Ariane Wilson of Menlo Park, Calif. researched, printed, and distributed a Spanish-language guide to help Hispanic immigrants find and take advantage of low-cost healthcare.
Brandon Mulcunry of Farmington, Conn. created a vegetable garden to grow produce for a homeless shelter and soup kitchen.
Aaron Taylor, of Glendale, Ariz., recruited a group of volunteers to tape-record 120 children’s books, and then donated the tapes to a domestic violence shelter for use in conjunction with the shelter’s children’s literacy program.
Deanna Fowler, of Melbourne, Fla., created the “You Are Special” Foundation to bake birthday cakes for abused, neglected and abandoned children in foster care.
Joseph Persac, of Baton Rouge, La., built, painted and installed storage cabinets at the Baton Rouge Battered Women’s Shelter so that residents could keep their personal items clean and organized.
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Erin Kinsella of Washington, D.C., helped create a program that educates high school students about organ donation, and arranges for professional football players to provide autographs to students who sign donor cards.
Rita Bergmann of Clarksburg, Md., created a huge display of photographs and stories of juvenile cancer survivors at a children's hospital in Washington, D.C., to give hope and inspiration to kids struggling with the disease.
Caitlin Steiger of Memphis, Tenn. organized an annual 5-kilometer running race to support a daycare center for underprivileged children infected or affected by AIDS or HIV.
Elizabeth Steffy of Millington, Md. made "crazy-patch" quilts for infants hospitalized with heart conditions.
Jarrett Mynear of Nicholasville, Ky. raised money to buy new toys once a week for patients at a children's hospital.
Alexia Abernathy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa served on the board of a home for AIDS patients, helping to raise operating funds, handling numerous chores and providing companionship to the residents.
Erin Carney of Baltimore, Md. volunteered to provide comfort and companionship to young patients at a local hospital.
Matthew Green of Titusville, Fla. created an Internet Web site offering information and advice for teens who suffer from Crohn's Disease.
Brooke Lyons of Woodbridge, Conn. started a support and information network for individuals with scoliosis and their families.
Jennifer Koeppel of Snyder, N.Y. chaired an AIDS awareness committee at her school that collects money and gifts for people with AIDS.
Kathryn Phillips of Rome, N.Y. recruited people to sign up with the National Bone Marrow Registry, and then raised money to pay for their blood tests.
Andre Beaulieu of Honolulu, Hawaii volunteered for the American Red Cross, dispatching ambulances, setting up electrocardiograms, answering telephones, and tracking patients' progress.
James Edwards of Tulsa, Okla. recruited fellow students to serve as "big brothers" or "big sisters" to young children with cancer.
Gregory Bonetti of Warwick, R.I. organized a petition drive for increased government funding of cancer research, chaired fund-raisers at his school, and assisted with free cancer screenings at senior citizen centers.
Marc Elliot of Chesterfield, Mo. started an annual toy sale to raise money for the playroom at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
Patricia Williams of Bay St. Louis, Miss. organized a Halloween party for young cancer patients.
Aaron Romero of Honolulu, Hawaii dressed up as a clown and performed magic and clown shows at hospitals and homeless shelters.
Lindsey Childers of North Platte, Neb. volunteered at a local hospital, organizing patient charts, filing, faxing, and performing other needed tasks.
Joel Yeaton of Exeter, N.H. created a fund to support spinal-cord research and to buy computers for kids to use while they're in the hospital.
Alicia Orosco of Abilene, Texas used her allowance to buy stuffed animals for sick and abused children.
Kathy Beck of Lamesa, Texas decorated and distributed caps to cancer patients who had lost their hair because of treatments.
Vicki Prautzsch of Hill City, S.D. and Chris Johnson of Smyrna, Del. volunteered as emergency medial technicians for their local volunteer ambulance services.
Melissa Anderson, of East Hampton, N.Y., raised more than $14,000 through donations and fund-raising activities to purchase a pediatric respirator for a local hospital.
Jared Smith, of Centerville, Utah, organized a blanket-making project for hospitalized children in his community, then made more blankets and collected more than 1,000 donated items for disadvantaged children in Peru.
Rob Montepare, of Lawrenceville, Ga., organized fund-raising events and created a 501(c)3 medical fund for a paralyzed student at his high school who had been injured in football practice.
Danielle Straughn, of Galloway, N.J., created a pen-pal program designed to provide support and encouragement to teens receiving treatment for eating disorders.
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Kay Lauren Miller of Vienna, Va. collected used books to set up libraries at homeless shelters, daycare centers and elementary schools that serve children who cannot afford books of their own.
Ryan Glass of Setauket, N.Y. founded a club that gives private music lessons to underprivileged children.
Joshua Marcus of Boca Raton, Fla. solicited donations of school supplies and backpacks from stores, companies, and individuals, then gave them to needy children at local childcare centers.
Marc Freed-Finnegan of Montclair, N.J. created a program at his school that arranges activities for children at a nearby homeless shelter.
Haven Scogin of Albuquerque, N.M. created an outreach program for at-risk kids that included a haunted house Halloween party for 100 children.
William Shurley of Monroe, La. founded a student-run organization that pairs schools with area churches to encourage church members to sponsor elementary students who cannot afford their school fees.
Sarah Hays of Alliance, Ohio organized an overnight camp for 11 girls in foster care, which featured games, hiking, arts and crafts projects, and an astronomy presentation.
Ashley Feldman of Shavertown, Pa. founded "Bikes for Tykes," a program that collects and refurbishes used bicycles for underprivileged children throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.
Kendra Neilson of Alva, Okla. designed and filled "treasure chests" with toiletries, toys and snacks for children placed in temporary shelters.
Jacob Kaskey of Olmsted Falls, Ohio initiated a coloring book and crayon drive to benefit homeless children staying at shelters in his area.
Jason Blau of Deerfield, Ill. organized a community-wide sports uniform and equipment drive to benefit inner-city children and their families.
Aubyn Burnside of Hickory, N.C. collected used suitcases so that children living in foster homes would not have to use trash bags for their belongings when they moved home to home.
David Lugo of Carolina, Puerto Rico led a campaign to donate books and games to adolescents in Puerto Rico's penitentiaries.
Emily Douglas of Powell, Ohio collected clothing, books, and educational toys for needy children in the Appalachian region.
Eric Perlyn of Boca Raton, Fla. worked with shoe manufacturers and local shoe stores to donate new shoes to underprivileged kids.
Dominique Womack of Washington, D.C. planned a holiday shopping trip to allow disadvantaged children to buy gifts for themselves and others.
Gillian Kilberg of McLean, Va. used an inheritance from her grandmother to found a summer camp that provided day trips for needy and abused children.
Melissa Gillooly of Warwick, R.I. started a summer tennis education program for inner-city youngsters.
Mark Gibbs of Huntsville, Ala. worked with local photo stores to offer more than 100 underprivileged children a chance to have their pictures taken with Santa Claus free of charge.
Anne Newman of Monroe, La. recruited a group of students at her school to spend a day at a home for teenage runaways, where they painted, cleaned up the yard, and spent time with the residents.
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Stephanie Detillier of Raceland, La., organized a school and community campaign to promote the importance of safe and sober driving.
Matthew Croft of Waterford, Mich., helped raise money to provide free bicycle helmets to needy first- and second-grade children at a local elementary school, and delivered a presentation on why it's "cool" to wear a helmet.
Kathleen Murray of Leawood, Kan. conducted a scientific research project that proved that vegetables grown in the yards of homes with lead paint can become contaminated with lead.
Brant Wheeler of Fountain Run, Ky. produced a video to teach elementary school students what to do in case of a kidnapping, home break-in, car accident, and other emergencies.
Nicholas Hoff of Hollis, N.H. worked with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to pass laws lowering the federal drunk-driving standard for blood alcohol.
Laura Hunsaker of Gillette, Wyo. established a youth task force to combat crime in her school.
Danielle Shimotakahara of North Bend, Ore. launched a campaign to remove violent coin-operated video games from public places where children congregate.
Kevin Cable of Mountain City, Tenn. wrote letters to governors across the country encouraging them to proclaim a "Weapons Awareness Day" in their states to focus attention on the importance of locking up firearms.
Gustav Owen of Bartlett, N.H. conceived a school-wide assembly on bus safety and emergency procedures.
Taryn Pream of Thief River Falls, Minn. created a brochure for other students on how to avoid becoming a victim of harassment on the Internet.
Milton Boyd of Washington, D.C. developed a theatrical presentation to educate teenagers about the importance of making sound decisions about drugs, sex, health and other issues.
Eleanor Sherman of Tiburon, Calif. helped launch a program at her school that addresses eating disorders and encourages girls to feel good about their bodies.
Jennifer Parker of Atkins, Ark. founded a club at her school that works to prevent student suicides through assemblies, plays, and other activities.
Sara McDonnall of Lamar, Colo. made a lap puppet named "Bucklebear" and took it to local elementary schools to deliver presentations on the importance of using seat belts.
Rafael Corona of Van Buren, Ark. wrote and performed a safety skit that gave young children advice about being home alone, answering the telephone, and talking to strangers.
Kelli Miller of Omaha, Neb. gave speeches on AIDS to area schools and groups, and ran a telephone hotline to answer questions about AIDS.
Matthew Iwamoto of Indianapolis, Ind. created a children's bicycle safety class using interactive games and indoor and outdoor exercises.
Cody Hill of Portland, Ore. organized a series of toy swaps called "Guns Aren't Fun" that encouraged kids to trade in their toy guns for other, non-violent toys.
Jessica Warren of Elizabethtown, N.C. created a presentation on food poisoning and food-handling practices and delivered it at her school and several youth camps.
Amanda Langley of Kinder, La. organized an all-girl assembly at her school to raise awareness of breast cancer.
Cory Snyder of Bowie, Md. and Braden Snyder of Richmond, Va. spearheaded fund-raising campaigns to buy for the volunteer fire departments in their towns a device that enables firefighters to see through smoke.
Theodoros and Nikolaos Milonopoulos of Studio City, Calif. conducted a kids' petition campaign to ban the sale of gun bullets in Los Angeles.
Meghan Pasricha, of Hockessin, Del., launched a campaign to educate young people at her school, across the country and overseas about the hazards of tobacco use.
Kasie Beth Eckman, of McComb, Miss., designed an abduction-prevention program that has taught thousands of kids in her area how to react when approached by strangers.
Adam Philley, of Monterey, La., coordinated a driver safety program that taught high school students about the dangers of drinking and driving, and educated younger students about the importance of wearing seat belts.
Kelly Voigt of Palatine, Ill. founded a nonprofit organization to teach other children how to prevent dog bites.
Brandon Harvey of Breeding, Ky. raised nearly $1,000 to buy smoke detectors for the families of all 175 students at a local elementary school.
Megan Larcom of Middletown, R.I. created a four-day safety-education program in her town to teach preschoolers how to avoid dangerous situations and deal with emergencies.
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Alyssa Latty of Kiowa, Okla., produced a public singing event called "Kids Singing for Kids," at which she sang for six hours straight and raised nearly $4,000 in cash and donated items to benefit children living in a shelter.
Mollee Mohr of Kokomo, Ind. organized a series of Beanie Baby shows to raise money for a local home for unwed mothers and their newborns.
Chelsea Rae Chambers of Potsdam, N.Y. created and sold a cookbook containing recipes submitted by children, and used the proceeds to buy school supplies for disadvantaged children.
William Chessor of Centerville, Tenn. designed and operated a "haunted house" that raised more than $6,000 to build an animal shelter.
Matthew Nonnemacher of Hazleton, Pa. placed penny collection jars throughout his town and ended up gathering 1.8 million pennies ($18,000) for his local United Way.
Brett and Cameron Byrd of Camas, Wash. used a series of concerts by their rock music band to raise money to provide mammograms to women who could not afford them.
Robin Hill of Bozeman, Mont. dressed up as a clown and entertained at parties in order to raise money for a non-profit organization that serves mentally disabled adults.
Alison Brown of Littleton, Colo. organized a "jump-rope-a-thon" to help pay the medical bills of a girl injured in the Columbine High School shootings.
Toni Fowler of Montgomery, Ala. initiated an annual 48-hour swing-a-thon on her front porch that attracted pledges totaling $10,000 for cancer research.
Kristen Andersen of Ladue, Mo. started an annual softball game featuring local celebrities, which has raised more than $100,000 for Alzheimer's Disease research.
Richard Hiatt of Los Alamitos, Calif. organized a walk-a-thon at a local high school to benefit the Children's Cancer Center at the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
Jason Crowe of Newburgh, Ind. started a newspaper "by kids and for kids" to raise money for the American Cancer Society and to show that kids' voices matter.
Lynnea McElreath of Southern Pines, N.C. wrote to celebrities to ask for donations of unwanted items and then auctioned them off to raise money to start a homeless shelter in her community.
Dana Walsh of Oceanside, N.Y. organized a student telephone campaign at her school that raised $3,000 from community members for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Kelly Kessler of Wantage, N.J. raised $1,176 for cancer research by organizing a fundraising competition among homerooms at her school, with a pizza party as the prize for the top class.
Jared Van Ittersum of Spring Lake, Mich. raised more than $9,000 for the American Lung Association by collecting pledges and then riding his bicycle across the country.
Jeffrey Lange of Wellesley, Mass. recorded and sold a music CD to raise more than $1,000 for the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition.
Randi Schamerhorn of Leesville, La. helped organize a roller skating "skate-a-long" for which more than 400 people in her community collected pledges for cystic fibrosis research.
Katie Eller of Tulsa, Okla. set up more than 200 lemonade stands in her town and raised more than $20,000 to purchase toys, playground equipment, cribs, and emergency supplies for a homeless facility.
Robyn Hyle of Cincinnati, Ohio hosted annual carnivals in her backyard for local youngsters to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Jennifer Kraschnewski of Burlington, Wis. raised $1,525 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation by recruiting sponsors for the launching of 950 balloons, which contained slips of paper stating the purpose of the launch and the sponsor's name.
Amy Flavin of Lawton, Mich. organized a wheelchair basketball game at her school to raise money for a coach who had been severely injured in an auto accident.
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Kate Klinkerman of Inez, Texas started an oil-recycling program in her rural county to prevent water contamination caused by crude oil dumping.
Garrett Bishop of El Centro, Calif. organized a clean-up project that removed more than 40,000 discarded car tires from roadways throughout his county.
Samantha Wright of Valdosta, Ga. helped create a mobile, hands-on science education center to increase community awareness of air and water purification.
Zachary Adkison of Cheyenne, Wyo. and his classmates spent three days removing garbage from Crow Creek, clearing overgrowth and planting flowers and bushes.
Linda Arnade of Palm Bay, Fla. tested residential wells in her town for septic-tank contamination, and then conducted a campaign to alert the public to this health and environmental risk.
Michael Harris of Arapaho, Okla. launched efforts to recycle aluminum, plastic, Christmas trees, telephone books, greeting cards and clothing, and promoted conservation throughout his community.
Shawn Garner of Roanoke Rapids, N.C. enlisted his Boy Scout troop to plant trees and repair a hiking trail in a state park that had been damaged by a hurricane.
Jesse Hanna of Trout Creek, Mont. started an annual weed-pulling project to eradicate the noxious "Blue Weed" from a 10-mile stretch of roadside.
Leanne Nakamura of Kaneohe, Hawaii organized an effort to halt erosion at a local beach by removing tons of fishnet that had accumulated from commercial fishing operations.
Michael Perez of Cabot, Ark. persuaded his state to set aside 50 acres of land for a wildlife preserve, and solicited donations and volunteer assistance to construct a nature trail and a conservation learning center.
Kathleen Jones of Concord, N.H. launched an environmental group at her school that helps build and maintain hiking trails, conducts recycling programs, and plants trees throughout her county.
Aaron Dickson of Clovis, N.M. organized a community-wide "trash bash" that rallied volunteers to clean up 155 city blocks.
Robbie Hanson of Cave Junction, Ore. worked with a local sanitation facility to start a recycling club at his school that recycles close to 30 tons of paper per month.
Jason Harper of Grand Island, Neb. promoted groundwater protection through speeches, presentations, puppet shows, public service announcements, a newsletter, and guided tours.
Jenny Reed of Hixson, Tenn. formed a "Green Team" within her 4-H club that cleaned up state parks, planted food plots for wild animals, taught inner-city youth about the environment, and planned hands-on activities to foster conservation.
Heather Hitzman of Florence, Ore. led her seventh-grade class in a project to test and clean up a Coho salmon stream.
Juan Ramirez of San Juan, Puerto Rico took scuba-diving lessons and then joined efforts to clean up the ocean floor.
Amber Novotny of Rosholt, S.D. established a recycling center for newspapers, magazines, plastic, tin, and glass in her small town.
Cameron Parker, of Jackson, Ga., organized a community forum to educate people in his area about alternative energy sources.
Vanessa Abbott, of Greensboro, N.C., produced a slide show to raise awareness of endangered species and generate donations for the World Wildlife Fund.
Megan Reamer of Montgomery Village, Md. recruited volunteers to remove invasive plants that were crowding out native vegetation in a local park, and to plant trees in their place.
Jami Harper of Grand Island, Neb. created an educational game, conducted workshops and developed a website to educate others about the importance of protecting water resources.
Frances Kim of Simi Valley, Calif. organized a household battery disposal program that collects used batteries and deposits them at a hazardous waste facility.
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Audrey Ells Payne of Waterbury, Vt. created a mentoring program that recruits high school students to serve as mentors for elementary school students from abusive or unstable environments.
Nathan Bertelsen of Minnetonka, Minn. trained high school students from the suburbs to tutor first-grade students from urban Minneapolis.
Donan Eckles of Hernando, Miss. collected used books for kids who don't have books of their own, and volunteered to read stories at local schools to encourage children to read.
Adrian Hunt of Pontiac, Mich. started a mentoring program to help boys without appropriate adult role models grow up to be responsible men.
Warren Martin of Edwards, Miss. tutored elementary and high school youth in English, math, science, and history after school in his own home.
Angela Lind of Flandreau, S.D. started a summer reading hour for young children at a local library, featuring age-appropriate books and activities that pertained to the stories.
Quinn Wilhelmi of Eugene, Ore. recruited several classmates to help him tutor 5th-grade students in writing skills at his former elementary school, working primarily on writing their autobiographies.
Pettus Randall of Tuscaloosa, Ala. founded a program that recruits high school students to serve as reading mentors to elementary school children.
Laura Berman of North Kingstown, R.I. made presentations to third-graders on the joys of books and libraries, giving each child a personal library card and a T-shirt reading "Your library card...don't leave home without it."
Alison Zitron of New York City, N.Y. set up a creative mentoring and tutoring program called "Kids to Kids" that helped at-risk kids with school work and arts and crafts projects every Saturday.
Sara Atkinson of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii persuaded a group of friends to help her develop a mentoring program for young children ages 9-14 who are at risk for violence and substance abuse.
Caitlin McGee of Seaford, Del. reads to pre-school children in a local Head Start program and performs skits based on popular children's stories to encourage a love of reading.
Robyn Strumpf of Northridge, Calif. collected books and sewed handmade blankets that were then donated to children's educational programs in her area, to teach young kids how enjoyable it is to "snuggle up" with a good book.
Philana Omorotionmwan of Baton Rouge, La. performed a series of plays for elementary school children at area libraries during her summer break.
Chas Duff, of Chatsworth, Cal., remodeled an old locker room into a library at a high school attended by juvenile offenders.
Whitney Prose, of Sunbury, Ohio, spearheaded a book drive that yielded more than 6,000 books and other items for a library in West Virginia that had been devastated by a flood.
Sarah Keane, of Greensboro, N.C., created a literacy center for students with limited English skills attending a local elementary school.
Sydny Koch, of Fargo, N.D., organized a cheerleading camp to give younger girls in her neighborhood something fun and safe to do on Saturday afternoons.
Jessica Hernandez, of Albany, Ga., helped create a program to teach manners to elementary students, and worked with fellow contestants of the Lee County Junior Miss Scholarship Program to deliver suitcases full of basic necessities to abused women and children.
Amanda Hulbert, of Medford, Ore., organized a program matching high school volunteer mentors to elementary school student ‘buddies’ for a series of lunchtime activities throughout the school year.
Elizabeth Horan, of East Greenwich, R.I., created a homework club at a local elementary school, personally tutoring children and leading a team of other volunteer tutors.
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Thomas Ferguson of Charlotte, N.C., started a non-profit organization of volunteers who help seniors and disabled adults with basic household tasks.
Lauren Meehan of New Fairfield, Conn., created the "Pet Pantry," a program that makes free pet food available to low-income senior citizens so they won't have to choose between buying essentials and keeping their pets.
Andrew Dunckelman of Houma, La. created a volunteer program that provides five different services to the elderly and infirm, each designed to appeal to one of the five senses.
Michelle Leonard of Salisbury, N.C. founded a program that links at-risk high school students with college-age and senior citizen mentors through e-mail and on-line chats.
Stephanie Rochel of North Easton, Mass. spearheaded a program in which high school students help retirees learn how to use computers.
Katherine Dillon of Little River, Kan. trained and certified her pet to be a "therapy dog," which she took to a local nursing home on a regular basis to cheer up the residents.
Chavis Newman-Keane of Anchorage, Alaska created a musical entertainment program called "Musical Smiles" to cheer up elderly residents of two assisted-living facilities.
Lauren Garsten of Cheshire, Conn. set up a program that matches up senior citizens, abused children and high school student volunteers in groups of three and organizes outings for them.
Erin Eno of Kahului, Hawaii sewed lap blankets and wheelchair bags for nursing home residents.
Benjamin Fiske of Washington, D.C. volunteered at a home for the elderly, transporting residents, preparing food, answering telephones, helping nurses, and providing companionship.
Jill Feyereisen of Gregory, S.D. created personalized birthday and "get well" cards for nursing home residents.
Mindi Kimp of Corvallis, Mont. organized a formal dance "prom" for local senior citizens the night before her own high school prom.
Kristyn Nordfors of Brewer, Maine read stories and poems to residents of a nursing home, and organized an arts and crafts night.
Michelle Turbin of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. created a program called "The Night Before Christmas" that brings children into nearby nursing homes on Christmas Eve to spread the joy of the holiday.
Jenna Brown of Louisville, Ky. helped with games and activities at a local nursing home, delivered mail to residents, and helped with bookkeeping and clerical duties.
Gabrielle Willis of Anchorage, Alaska volunteered as an editor, reporter, photographer, and graphic designer for a newspaper at an assisted-living/nursing facility in her town.
Kelly Linquist of Fonda, Iowa made weekly visits to a nursing home, playing cards and bingo with the residents, entertaining them with her pet dog and kittens, and raising money to buy them holiday gifts.
Sarah Bonady of Wynne, Ark. persuaded her 4-H club to adopt a retirement center, where club members coordinate fashion shows, holiday visits, craft activities, and outdoor planting projects.
Tricia Geyer of Milford, Del. organized a Christmas Dinner Theater for senior citizens and sold tables to local businesses to pay for a turkey dinner, a play, music, and dancing.
Gina Cron of Sioux City, Iowa volunteered at a nursing home, refilling supply carts, serving meals, taking patients for walks, and helping with numerous other activities.
Daniel Kent of Carmel, Ind. created a nonprofit corporation that collects computer equipment for senior citizens and teaches them how to use the Internet.
Cormac O’Connor of Prairie Village, Kan. implemented an intergenerational arts program that brought senior citizens and at-risk children together for classes in visual arts, movement, theater and jazz.
Emily Felix of Kingston, Mass. created “Kingston Kids Care,” a youth volunteer group that provides senior citizens with companionship, assistance with chores, and funds to help with the high cost of prescriptions.
Andrew Julien of Los Angeles, Calif. produces video histories of senior citizens living at a local nursing home.
Kaitlyn Larson of Burlington, Conn. developed a program in which high school students make regular telephone calls to local senior citizens to make sure they are all right.
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Corey Rennell of Anchorage, Alaska, planned and built a children's play structure in the shape of an airplane at Anchorage's international airport to give young travelers something fun and educational to do during long layovers.
Nathan Miller of Winterport, Me., helped organize a community campaign to build a teen skate park so that local skateboarders and roller-bladers would have a safe place to practice off the streets.
Alexis Saba of Cherry Valley, N.Y., established a community youth center and coffeehouse in an abandoned school building to provide a drug- and alcohol-free place for local students to congregate.
Jacklyn Murray of Onawa, Iowa recruited volunteers and raised money to restore two city parks.
Alexander Gates of Palmyra, Pa. led an effort to erect a monument commemorating veterans from his town who were killed in military service.
Jennifer Larson of Spearfish, S.D. organized a backyard carnival to raise money for a new library.
Marcy Bluvas of Omaha, Neb. enlisted the help of 12 local children and their families to plant more than 4,000 flowers over an eight-block area.
Madeleine Elish of Pittsburgh, Pa. and 17 friends painted over graffiti at four city locations.
Andrew Ingold of Andover, Kan. conducted a penny drive to help clean up an historic home that had been vandalized by students from his school.
Emily Mathes of Vicksburg, Miss. lobbied local government to restore an abandoned and neglected neighborhood park that had become a hangout for drug dealers.
Robert Sheerer of Cedar Falls, Iowa designed and constructed a self-guided nature trail in a local park, and Jason Hall of Salisbury, N.C. built a 24-foot pedestrian bridge for a park in his community.
Charles Darus of Cairo, Ga. organized a group of young people to help renovate a building for a youth center in his town and to help fund its operating costs.
Alan Simpson of Fort Atkinson, Wis. started a fundraising campaign to save and restore an old fort in his community.
Nathan Ladd of Effingham, Kan. sought and obtained permission from his city clerk to restore a neglected flower garden in a city park.
Eddie Armstrong of North Little Rock, Ark. helped rebuild a dilapidated and dangerous playground in his apartment complex.
Jacob Schanzenbach of Rosalia, Wash. designed and implemented a new address system for his town to make it easier for emergency services to locate homes quickly.
Kimberly Sanchez of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico raised money and recruited volunteers to restore a children's ward at a local hospital.
Anita Taylor of Methuen, Mass. petitioned her city to install sidewalks and streetlights on a dangerous stretch of roadway.
Charles Andrews of Bradenton, Fla. organized a project to stop soil erosion on an ancient and historically significant Indian mound near his home.
Scott Stevens of Saratoga, Wyo. mobilized his town to get behind the much-needed renovation of his town's athletic track.
Kalila Dalton of McLouth, Kan. worked to reopen an abandoned library in her town that had been closed for 17 years.
Monica Brady of Philadelphia, Pa. formed an "environmental society" at her school that sought to restore a sense of pride and community to her inner-city neighborhood by cleaning up graffiti and planting trees and flowers.
Trent Anderson of Benjamin, Utah constructed a tribute to his town's history on a small plot of land, with informational plaques, a bench, and a fence.
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Ashley Wright of overland Park, Kan., developed a vocal music performance class for developmentally challenged adults in her community so that she could share her passion for music with this special group of people.
Amber Harven of Denver, Pa., organized a youth walkathon that raised close to $1,000 to help purchase a wheelchair-accessible van for a disabled student attending her school.
Nichole Magnifico or Warwick, R.I., put together the first cheerleading squad in the state of Rhode Island made up of special-needs individuals
Michael Kay of Wilmington, Ill. developed a program to provide companionship to handicapped group home residents through "buddy" relationships with middle and high school students.
Sherrill Sandstrom of Holyoke, Colo. organized an adaptive aquatics swim team for developmentally disabled youth.
Michaella Gallina of Pueblo West, Colo. organized a rodeo for handicapped children in her community.
Ashley Jackson of Hattiesburg, Miss. started a program that pairs high school students with disabled children to provide them with social relationships outside their homes.
Katherine Lacy of Hamilton, Mont. developed a free audio library for people of all ages who cannot read due to poor eyesight or illness.
Sally McClintock of Frederic, Wis. delivered books and audio tapes to home-bound senior citizens and physically challenged individuals living in her community.
Caitlin Janus of Barre, Vt. organized a horseback riding program for handicapped children.
Alia Szopa of Manchester, N.H. provided dance instruction to pre-teen girls with developmental disabilities.
Matthew McDaniel of Caldwell, Idaho helped a group of mentally and physically disabled people enjoy the sport of bowling once a week at a local bowling alley.
Natasha Liebig of Chugiak, Alaska volunteered to help autistic children overcome the challenges they face in everyday life.
Erin Mitchell of Londonderry, N.H. created a "Girl's Group" that paired girls from her scouting troop with girls who have disabilities to go on recreational outings together.
Melanie Daniels of Crab Orchard, W.Va. started a T-ball team for mentally and physically handicapped children.
Sarah Baker of Auburn, Wash. raised three puppies to become seeing-eye dogs for the blind.
Tyrell Nickens of Kilmarnock, Va. created a Christmas fund that provided gifts and a holiday party for mentally and physically disabled people in his ten-county region.
Nicole Armand of Bush, La. organized a private evening of fun at an amusement park for children with epilepsy.
Elizabeth Cable of Mountain City, Tenn. sewed cloth "caddies" that can be used to hold personal items for people in wheelchairs.
Desirae Plourde of Fort Kent, Maine served as a sign-language interpreter to enable a hearing-impaired classmate to play in her school's basketball, baseball, and soccer games.
Jessica Bobb, of Taylor, N.D., volunteered to serve as a personal counselor to a handicapped camper at a summer camp for mentally disabled children and adults.
Denise Schuh, of Wausau, Wis., launched an effort to provide new computer systems with special software to 15 disadvantaged students with visual and learning disabilities.
Stephanie Davis of Trumbull, Conn. raised nearly $4,000 to support autism research by making and selling heart-shaped pins.
Courtney Atwood of Laurel, Mont. raises funds and works as a volunteer camp counselor for disabled and autistic students.
Michael Page of Watchung, N.J. created a free online lending library where visually impaired people across the U.S. can get audio books on CD or cassette tape by mail.
Britta Anderson of Albuquerque, N.M. arranges monthly social outings for students at her school and a group of mentally disabled adults in an attempt to forge lasting friendships between the two groups and to overcome common stereotypes.
Jennifer Dougherty of Winnebago, Ill. coordinated a talent show at the county fair on behalf of her school’s Key Club, with all proceeds going to the Spastic Paralysis Research Foundation.
Gavin Flentge of Perryville, Mo. organized a project to build a handicapped-accessible playground in his community so that able-bodied and handicapped children could play together.
Jake Jendusa of Hartland, Wis. organized a basketball clinic, game and recognition luncheon for children and teens with special needs.
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Sydney Steely of Murfreesboro, Ark., conducted a community-wide campaign that collected nearly 250 pairs of used eyeglasses for people who could not afford new ones.
Kristina Packer of Lewiston, Idaho, initiated a campaign to collect gently used musical instruments for students who wanted to play in her school band but could not afford to buy or rent their own.
Savannah Holderman of Mishawaka, Ind., organized a collection drive to provide pencils, scissors, bindres, and other classroom essentials to fellow students who couldn not afford basic school supplies.
Elizabeth Scoville of East Bernstadt, Ky., started a computer collection project that provided refurbished personal computers to 34 low-income students in the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky.
Britta Cook of Chippewa Falls, Wis. organized a "hair-a-thon" to get local girls to donate their hair to a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who suffer from medical hair loss.
Christine Finkbeiner of Belgrade, Mont. coordinated a collection drive to provide "care" packages of toiletries for the Red Cross and a local shelter.
Ryan Olson of Pearisburg, Va. solicited help from all of the Boy and Girl Scout troops in his county to collect Thanksgiving and Christmas hams for local residents who could not afford holiday meals.
Mackenzie Sweeney of Souder, Mo. planned a fashion show to raise awareness of a food and clothing bank in her community and to collect clothing donations for the facility.
Katie Rudoff of Green River, Wyo. organized a "scavenger hunt" food drive that involved several teams competing against each other to see who could collect the most donated food.
Dev SenGupta of Renton, Wash. implemented a toy and book drive that yielded 5,000 items to benefit homeless children at shelters in his area.
William Vaughan of Huntsville, Ala. collected more than 500 pieces of clothing for the homeless by setting up collection sites, soliciting door-to-door, and requesting donations from local businesses.
Jeffrey Guhin of Omaha, Neb. founded a high school organization that collects food and money to feed the hungry each Spring, a time when many welfare agencies run short of supplies.
Kelly Shelinsky of Philadelphia, Pa. collected new and used books and donated them to a local children's hospital.
Stephanie Adas of West Bloomfield, Mich. persuaded classmates to donate more than 100 pair of unneeded, "gently used" shoes to a local service organization.
Diana Gamble of Lewiston, Mont. created a program that solicits items such as diapers, blankets, toothbrushes, and coloring books from local merchants to distribute to children in foster care.
Dawn Stockwell of Westminster, Colo. organized a group of young people to "Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat," a canned-food drive conducted the day before Halloween to benefit a local food bank.
Celia Merendi of Miami, Fla. conducted a book drive that provided every student at a local elementary school with a new book to take home for summertime reading.
Megan Ostrem of Portland, Ore. set up a small room in her school to serve as the "Evergreen Clothing Closet" and began collecting donations from fellow students for local migrant workers and other needy families.
Emily Prysby of Beverly Hills, Mich. conducted a "souper" campaign to collect cans of soup and other foods for low-income families.
Daniel Cayce, of Thornton, Ark., started a nutrition program that provides night and weekend meals to needy students, and their preschool siblings, in his school district.
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Hannah Johnson of Osceola, Wis., wrote a children's book about prejudice and bigotry, and then turned it into a musical play that was performed by a local theater company.
Anisa Kintz of Conway, S.C. organized a kids' conference at Coastal Carolina University called "Calling All Colors" to promote racial unity among young people in grades 3-8.
Brian Harris of Stanton, Calif. started an international pen-pal service that pairs people of different races around the world to promote interracial understanding.
Lindsay Stewart of Windber, Pa. created a student volunteer organization dedicated to promoting tolerance and understanding of those who suffer from chemical brain disorders.
Amy Schlueter of Rolla, Mo. organized a club at her school that promotes and rewards acts of kindness by students and teachers throughout the year.
Katie Bolenbaugh of Chisago City, Minn. organized a four-mile, seven-hour march against racism and violence after learning that minority students at her school were being threatened and harassed.
Andrea Hurwitz of Peabody, Mass. started a campaign in her school that encouraged fellow students to wear blue ribbons to express "zero tolerance" for hate graffiti and other acts of prejudice.
Christopher Chambers of Ravenswood, W.Va. created an authentic Indian costume and learned Native American dances to participate in a program that conveys and inspires respect for the Native American spirit.
Danielle Buechler of Centerville, S.D. created skits featuring singing and ventriloquism to educate others about discrimination and other social issues at schools, teacher workshops, and nursing homes.
Caitlin Connolly of Cohasset, Mass. formed the Social Awareness Organization at her school, which addresses social issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and political injustice.
Elizabeth Foley, of Saline, Mich., organized the “Visual Ambassadors,” a school group dedicated to educating others about the visually impaired.
Jessica Baris, of San Diego, Cal., organized a group of teen artists to create a 40-foot “Wall of Peace and Kindness” mural, which honored the work of Martin Luther King Jr. by depicting messages of non-violence, tolerance and friendship.
Kurt Van Raden, of Boulder, Colo., spent 1,500 hours over an entire school year creating and producing “Boulder High Hate-Free Week,” a series of events designed to raise awareness of discrimination and encourage tolerance and understanding.
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Jennifer Przybylo of Lincolnwood, Ill., established a collection program that donated more than 15,000 makeup and toiletry items to lift the spirits of homeless and abused women at a shelter in Chicago.
Jami Harper of Grand Island, Neb. crocheted afghan blankets to comfort children staying at a community crisis center.
Michaella Raikes of Seattle, Wash. threw birthday parties for children staying at an emergency shelter.
Heidi Larison of Towanda, Kan. started a campaign to purchase stuffed animals for her local police, fire, and emergency medical departments to give to children in crisis situations.
David Adamiec of Westbrook, Conn. prepared "Kid Packs" containing clothing, toiletries, toys, and school supplies for children who are separated from their families due to domestic violence, arrest, or drug abuse.
Anna DeMartino of Malverne, N.Y. conducted a fundraising campaign at her school to purchase Christmas presents for a family affected by domestic violence.
Sarah Austin of Waldorf, Md. founded a youth volunteer hospice program that recruits and trains teenagers to assist and comfort dying patients and their families.
Sharifa Ramaileh of Bountiful, Utah created plaster hand and foot molds of terminally ill children as keepsakes for family members in association with a children's hospice agency.
Ruth King of Princeton, W.Va. served as a peer counselor to young women experiencing unexpected pregnancies.
Brittany Blockman of Memphis, Tenn. founded a support group for teens and young adults who have a parent or close family member with cancer.
Brenda Corace of Palm Harbor, Fla. started a video project that provides families of terminally ill patients with a "living" record of their loved ones after they're gone.
Molly Farneth of Wilmington, Del. recruited fellow students to prepare meals for families of sick children who are staying at a local Ronald McDonald House.
Leslie Coggins of Phenix City, Ala. made burial gowns for premature infants that cannot survive, as a way of easing their families' pain.
Anne Treat of Fargo, N.D. volunteered at a rape and abuse crisis center and organized an annual "Take Back the Night" march in her town to honor survivors of abuse and reclaim the safety of the streets.
Ann Nelson of Jasper, Ala. conducted a drive to collect food, baby items, and other supplies for a local center for abused women and their children.
Shemilly Briscoe of Pahrump, Nev. organized a three-hour talent show and a raffle that raised more than $1,000 to support a local domestic-crisis intervention shelter and raise awareness of child and spousal abuse.
Samantha Crow of Topeka, Kan. collected more than 1,700 books to establish a children's library at a home for battered women.
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Chelsie Gorzalka of Clearmont, Wyo., created and presented puppet plays around her state to educate young children about the dangers of tobacco and drugs.
Amit Bushan of Lubbock, Texas conducted a campaign to educate his community about the dangers of second-hand smoke, and led a lobbying effort to ban smoking in city restaurants.
Joshua Hewitt of Perry, N.Y. staged a simulated traffic accident at his school to graphically demonstrate to other students the horrors of drunk driving.
Jenny Hungerford of Orfordville, Wis. wrote a skit about what it's like to be a teenage drug addict and presented it to schools, youth conferences, and community groups.
Lauren Benson of Benton, Ark. developed a "buddy-check" drug prevention program that encourages teens to pair up and support their buddies in a promise to be drug- and alcohol-free.
Emily Fischer of West Kingston, R.I. rallied her student body to support a more stringent smoking policy at her school.
Marissa Olson of Lakewood, Colo. organized a drunk driving simulator program at her school that enabled students to experience how it feels to drive under the influence of intoxicants.
Derek Swierczek of Palatine, Ill. campaigned to have all cigarette vending machines removed from his town to prevent underage smoking.
Renya Furuya of Honolulu, Hawaii lectured to elementary school students on drug use, peer pressure, and self-worth.
Kimberly Pettersen of Minot, N.D. launched a public relations campaign to promote a smoke-free environment in her community and state.
Mark Jones of Marion, W.Va. dressed up as "Cowboy Dave" and traveled to schools, day care centers, scout troops, libraries, churches, and summer camps to warn youngsters about the dangers of drugs and smoking.
Shelarese Ruffin of Atlanta, Ga. developed an intervention program that enables middle and high school students to confront and overcome drug and other discipline problems instead of being expelled from school.
Dana Davis of Kingsport, Tenn. developed a multi-media stage show using puppetry, music, ventriloquism, and audience participation to warn children about the dangers of smoking.
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David Tao of Bardstown, Ky., created a candle and broom-making exhibit for a local historical museum to teach visitors about some of the almost-forgotten skills needed for survival in frontier America.
Jennifer Smith of Simsbury, Conn. developed several educational programs for young people while working at a local historic site, to encourage interest in American history.
Jennifer Thomas of Mableton, Ga. created a classical ballet program for elementary students to expose other young African-Americans to the fine arts.
Kirsten Wright of Twin Falls, Idaho organized a two-day seminar on self-defense for 13 to 18-year-olds in her Girl Scout service unit.
Jonathan Cheek of Arlington, Va. developed a curriculum and conducted classes to teach senior citizens how to navigate the World Wide Web.
Amber Birner of Warrens, Wis. helped more than 100 small children overcome their fear of water and learn basic swimming skills.
Burr Settles of Lexington, Ky. created a science education program for elementary students that features a series of interactive demonstrations staged like a magic show.
Ariel Gold of Hilo, Hawaii started a theater program for elementary school students with behavioral problems.
Shannon Blevins of Columbus, Miss. created a gospel choir at his school to enable young students to develop their singing talents and share fellowship.
Kristine Schmitz of Kensington, Md. developed a program for at-risk girls in 4th and 5th grades that provides positive female role models and focuses on issues such as self-esteem, conflict resolution, and positive relationships.
Morgan Aquino Mackles of Lake Oswego, Ore. founded a "family heritage" program that teaches primary school students how to collect and organize family information and develop an individualized family history.
Armando Martinez of Seattle, Wash. helped fund and conduct a five-week seminar that taught 70 youth from seven states how to be community leaders and resolve conflict peacefully.
Gopalkrishna Trivedi of Grosse Point Park, Mich. repaired and upgraded 120 obsolete school computers to help non-English-speaking students learn and work in the English language.
Ryan Leybas of Casa Grande, Ariz. founded a leadership camp that teaches middle level students skills to help them succeed both in school and in life.
Camila Hoff of Dagmar, Mont. planned a series of special activity days to teach local youth hands-on skills in areas such as winter survival, safety, and exploring the great outdoors.
Megan Hedgecock of El Paso, Texas taught English to first-graders whose first language was Spanish.
Jason Suydam of Garrison, N.D. created a virtual 4-H club program to help other teens learn about computers.
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Elizabeth Moss of Winnemucca, Nev. created a "welcome wagon" at her school to make every new student feel at home.
Christopher Zeigler of Wilmington, Del. spearheaded the restoration of a run-down playground at his former elementary school.
John Bollhardt of Shaftsbury, Vt. coordinated a drive to collect used clothing, sold the clothes to a recycling company, and used the proceeds to buy textbooks for his school.
Jesse Waite of Logandale, Nev. designed a landscaping project to beautify an empty lot at a local elementary school.
Todd Wheeling of Gaylesville, Ala. raised money to purchase computers for his school, and installed them himself.
Jennifer Nydegger of Townsend, Mont. canvassed local businesses, clubs and organizations to raise money to provide a flagpole for her school.
Katherine Lindle of Louisville, Ky. converted an unused room at her Catholic school into a chapel to provide a place of peace and solitude for fellow students.
Amanda Chapman of Staten Island, N.Y. provided a volunteer baby-sitting service during school PTA meetings.
Marc Freed-Finnegan of Montclair, N.J. started an online bulletin board to help classmates keep track of homework assignments.
Kyle Loberg of Missoula, Mont. built picnic tables for his school after acquiring donated lumber, drafting a design, and recruiting volunteer helpers from his Boy Scout troop.
Christopher Haagen of Moscow, Idaho built a professional lighting and sound control booth for his high school auditorium.
James French of Goshen, Ky. organized a student-run fundraising organization that raised more than $2,000 to fund athletics, fine arts, media, technology, and co-curricular activities for his school.
Aaron Soto of Las Cruces, N.M. prepared and conducted a four-day instructional seminar that taught teachers at his school how to use computers.
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Emily Schultheis of Alameda, Calif., and Stacey Hillman of Deltona, Fla., raised thousands of dollars to buy bulletproof vests for police dogs.
James Taylor of Worthington, W.Va., researched and built houses and feeders for bats, and gave educational presentations about the myths surrounding these creatures.
Rachel Salzer of Rootstown, Ohio volunteered for the local Animal Protective League, taking care of abandoned or mistreated pets, and holding a candy sale to raise money for the league.
Aaron Crim of West Valley City, Utah collected blankets for newborn and sick animals at the Salt Lake City Zoo's hospital.
Sabrina Lojuk of Carrollton, Texas helped care for animals at a local animal shelter, assisted with adoptions, and gave speeches on animal-related issues.
Molly Vandewater of Thousand Oaks, Calif. started a program that rescues and rehabilitates injured or orphaned animals and releases them back into the wild.
Megan Wardwell of Boise, Idaho worked at her local Humane Society chapter, feeding and walking animals and cleaning their cages.
Catherine Doyle, of Charlotte, N.C., volunteers for the Horse Protection Society, where she helps rehabilitate and care for abused and abandoned horses.
Alexander Lin of Westerly, R.I. volunteered with a group of local students to educate the community about rabies prevention, the importance of spaying and neutering pets, and the proper treatment of animals.
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Craig Whyte of Blackfoot, Idaho organized a "day-away" camp for children left homeless by a massive flood.
Sofia Blazevic of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico distributed medical supplies and clothing to victims of Hurricane Hortense.
Zachary Carter of Arlington, Va. and his classmates sold small paper teddy bears to raise $1,500 for children affected by the Oklahoma City bombing.
Sara Stieben of Fort Collins, Colo. helped people in her town pump water from their homes, salvage their belongings, and deliver food and clothing donations after a major flood.
Pau Milan of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico worked to repair and reopen his school after it was devastated by Hurricane Georges.
Mark Lindquist of Ortonville, Minn. led a team of volunteers in helping victims of a devastating tornado.
Geneva Campbell of Philomath, Ore. and fellow students baked and sold thousands of cookies to help relief efforts in Oklahoma City after the bombing of a federal office building there.
Brynne Kramer, of Hanover, Pa., organized a swim-a-thon that raised approximately $5,000 to help tornado victims and replenish the local Red Cross Relief Fund.
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Ashleigh Crowe of Suffield, Conn., organized a group of volunteers to assist a small village in the Dominican Republic with projects that have improved living conditions and educational opportunities for the people who live there.
Korina Smith of Saugatuck, Mich. founded a teen community service organization that conducts numerous activities to benefit poor and sick people in underdeveloped countries.
Ryley Berg of Woodbury, Minn. organized a book collection that provided enough books to create libraries at two rural schools in the African nation of Tanzania.
Elizabeth Hundley of High Point, N.C. raised money to help alleviate the worldwide impact of Iodine Deficiency Disorder.
David Mericle of Madison, Wis. established an organization that seeks to improve relations between the United States and Cuba by creating opportunities for students in the two countries to meet and become friends.
Megan Doherty of Lemont, Ill. raised money to bring young cancer victims of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident in the Ukraine to her town for life-saving medical treatment.
Erica Rymer of West Columbia, S.C. collected school and medical supplies for 1,500 needy children in a Haitian orphanage.
Danielle Devlin of Egg Harbor Township, N.J. led a campaign at her school to collect and assemble emergency medical kits for refugees of the Kosovo conflict in the Balkans.
Julia Tobias of Exeter, N.H. created a nonprofit fund to benefit a youth center in Bosnia and to raise awareness in her own community about prejudice, tolerance, and the Bosnian cause.
Kiara Diggs of Washington, D.C. spent a month in Mexico with the Amigos de la Americas organization helping residents of a poor village design and construct latrines and learn sanitation procedures.
Sarra Cherry of Albuquerque, N.M. solicited donations of eyeglasses and sent them to a tribe in Indonesia.
Tabitha Kulish of Lancaster, Pa. made homemade greeting cards for U.S. military personnel overseas and others in need of cheering up.
Elizabeth Shenk of Westerville, Ohio raised money and volunteered for Operation Smile, an organization that performs free reconstructive surgery on deformed children in Third World countries.
Dianna English of Willimantic, Conn. founded the Connecticut chapter of "Free the Children", a nonprofit youth organization dedicated to eliminating child labor and exploitation around the world.
Ashley Shuyler, of Golden, Colo., founded a non-profit organization that has raised more than $40,000 to put 10 girls through secondary school in Tanzania and to provide supplies to girls’ schools in that African nation.
Alex Hill, of Grand Blanc, Mich., raised nearly $67,000 to provide an ambulance and medical supplies to a health center in Uganda that serves 140,000 people living in 62 villages.
Haley Evans, of Fairhope, Ala., planned a project to collect and send 400 “Christmas Shoeboxes” filled with games, toys, and toiletries to needy children in South America.
Patricia Alessi, of Revere, Mass., created the Afghan Women’s Project at her school, which raises public awareness about the plight of women in Afghanistan, raises funds to fund Afghan educational programs for women, and petitions government officials to support equality for Afghan women.
Sarah Moeller of Davie, Fla. organized a clothing drive to collect suits and nice dresses for struggling Haitian immigrants to wear on job interviews and for special occasions.
Shannon Sullivan of Kensington, Md. started a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $1,000 to help fund the education of 15 girls in the African country of Mali.
Richard Ashenfelter and Paul Koffer co-founded the “Relief Pitchers” project, which solicited donations of new and gently used baseball equipment for distribution to disadvantaged children in the Dominican Republic.
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Kristen Stryker of Canton, Ohio, introduced a gardening program in youth correctional facilities across Ohio, in which young inmates grow vegetables for local food banks and at the same time learn the value of giving to others.
Erica Whisney of Alpha, Minn. created a program that seeks to place high school volunteers on local community advisory and policymaking boards.
Lisa-Anne Furgal of Largo, Fla. encouraged fellow students to get involved in community activities by producing a booklet of nonprofit organizations in her area that seek volunteers.
Allan Peetz of Osceola, Ind. created an innovative youth service program in which local businesses "sponsor" teens who volunteer at a local homeless shelter by pledging to make a donation to the shelter for each volunteer hour worked.
Lisa Guttentag of Greensboro, N.C. founded a teen volunteer group that has worked with community organizations to host parties for homeless children, prepare Thanksgiving meals for needy families, and make teddy bears for children's hospitals.
Ben Moore of Riverton, Utah challenged students at his school to collectively render 1,000 hours of volunteer service over a special two-week period.
Alissa Tippetts of Blackfoot, Idaho recruited more than 50 students to create a "summer service club" that painted a retirement home, held a car wash fundraiser, and assisted the elder with a variety of projects.
Becca Laptook of Dallas, Texas formed a community service group at her school that involved more than 250 classmates in volunteer projects at local hospitals, shelters, food banks, and other organizations in need of assistance.
Jeffrey Walker of Henderson, Nev. developed a book for students at his high school on how to identify and create community service projects, and sent copies to class presidents in other schools throughout southern Nevada.
Annina Burns of Falls Church, Va. founded a youth volunteer group called "Y-NOT" that tutors homeless children six hours a week, and sells calendars featuring drawings by the children to raise money for their shelter.
Amy Cada of Downers Grove, Ill. launched a youth organization that encourages students to collect soft drink "pop tops" to benefit Ronald McDonald Houses across the country.
Kathleen Jones of Concord, N.H. started an environmental group at her school that helps build and maintain hiking trails, conducts recycling programs and plants trees throughout her county.
Lindsey Kulas of Windsor Locks, Conn. worked with a local Lions Club to form a community service group at her school that hosts dances, cleans elderly people's homes, and prepares food for a local soup kitchen.
Holly Adamson, of Las Vegas, Nev., created the Volunteer Youth Corps of Southern Nevada, a network linking middle and high school students with a variety of volunteering opportunities in Southern Nevada.
Maeve O’Connor, of Prairie Village, Kan., created a youth volunteer organization dedicated to helping children in need.
Eric Cohen, of Boca Raton, Fla., organized a teen volunteer group to work at soup kitchens, nursing homes, elementary schools, animal shelters, and improvement projects in his community.
Jennifer Przybylo, of Lincolnwood, Ill., created a national Internet-based community service organization that allows people to do volunteer work on-line, such as sending cards to the sick and elderly, and writing thank-you notes to veterans.
Lindsey Gordon, of Fall City, Wash., created and directed a student community service committee at her school that has taught disabled children how to ski, collected Christmas presents for needy children, and served food at a local homeless shelter.
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Joseph Blecha of Munden, Kan. collected data from tombstones in a local cemetery as part of a nationwide effort to make genealogical information from every state available on the Internet.
Benjamin Womick of Spartanburg, S.C. helped save three houses from destruction and helped many people injured in accidents as a volunteer for his town's fire department.
Allison Arensman of Louisville, Ky. organized an annual girls leadership conference to encourage young women to take a stand against inequality and to not be limited by their gender.
Justin Eveloff of Council Bluffs, Iowa persuaded his state to declare a special day in recognition of the needs and importance of children, then organized a community youth celebration on that day.
Jason Kelley of Prescott, Ariz. created a youth Chamber of Commerce in his town to "provide kids who are leaders and entrepreneurs with an outlet for business opportunities."
Robert Purvis of Tucson, Ariz. volunteered as a teen lawyer representing first-time juvenile misdemeanor offenders during sentencing trials in Tucson's Teen Court program.
Adrien Lopez of Valdez, Alaska established a forum called Teens Against Pregnancy to educate young girls about the challenges of being a teen mother.
Tyler Mann of Roswell, Ga. and Christine Varnado of Hattiesburg, Miss. conducted voter registration drives at their schools.
Randi Pope of Long Beach, Miss. founded a group at her school to fight negative peer pressure, partly by recognizing students who perform special acts of kindness on the school's morning news show.
April Matthews of Woodbridge, Va. started a support group for kids at a homeless center comprised of young people who had previously been homeless themselves.
Jason Cunningham of Dallas, Texas initiated a statewide program to raise money for the restoration of an historic battleship.
William Fletcher of Jackson, Ga. conducted a community education campaign on his county's mosquito problem and how to control it.
Megan Sack, of Mendota, Ill., researched the history of an old one-room schoolhouse in her town, and then created a display and presentation to share its story with others.
Elizabeth Bierwirth, of Tupper Lake, N.Y., created a searchable computer database containing community birth records dating from 1892 to 1993.
Lindsay Janik, of Lockport, N.Y., created the “Chain of Love,” a paper-link chain that raised nearly $800 to benefit a local family in need.
Lucas Brommer, of Quakertown, Pa., organized a community run-walk race that raised $4,600 to create a scholarship fund honoring the memory of a popular local teacher and his wife.
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