Nestlé Drumstick® Heroes

• Alicia D.

  Ada, OK

  

  Alicia first realized her passion for helping the elderly though her mother’s involvement with the Southern Oklahoma Nutrition program, which provides meals to senior adults. Alicia was concerned when she discovered that many of the older adults didn’t understand the importance of physical fitness. She addressed this problem by researching safe exercises for the elderly and developing a curriculum to help senior adults get the physical activity they need to be healthy.

  Alicia also organized a team of kids to help bring this information to other older adults. Her friend, Elizabeth explains, “Alicia and her team have taught at 19 facilities in Oklahoma, including senior citizen’s centers, assisted living facilities and civic organizations. She is an outstanding young lady who works tirelessly to help people.”

  Alicia called her program Y.E.S., which stands for Youth Educating Seniors. Today, the program is very successful and is being duplicated throughout Oklahoma.

• Andrea L.

  Lonia, MI

  

  Andrea has been in involved in the Ionia Kids Club since the 6th Grade, and she volunteers about 120 hours every year. She assists with the younger kids in the group, making sure they feel good about themselves and their part in the current project they are working on.

  Penny B., Youth Coordinator, describes Andrea’s involvement with the group: “Two years ago, Andrea helped plan our Holiday Hope Chest Project. For this project we collect shoeboxes with stocking stuffer items to assemble and pass out to youth living in low-income housing. Andrea participated in all the planning stages, and she also asked her student council to collect spare change at lunch to purchase supplies for the project.”

  During the first year, 112 shoeboxes were donated. The second year, Andrea assisted with writing a mini-grant, which allowed the group to organize a shopping spree to buy shoebox items for the project. In the second year, the group donated 148 shoeboxes to kids in need.

• Aubrey M.

  Charlotte, NC

  

  As a NESTLÉ® DRUMSTICK® Hero, Aubrey is one of 50 special young people who are truly making a difference in their communities. Aubrey is being recognized for organizing the neighborhood Food Pantry Co-Op in 2009 with his mother, Merrie. The Food Pantry Co-Op encourages neighbors to purchase groceries for donation to a local food pantry. Aubrey and his mom have been instrumental to this organization, helping to pick up the donations and deliver them to the local food pantries. Thanks to Aubrey’s efforts, over 50 families are participating in the Food Pantry Co-Op.

• Austin and Calista P.

  Charlotte, NC

  

  Austin is truly an amazing child, who has overcome many personal challenges. In 2005, Austin joined the Special Olympics, which allowed him to gain confidence and form friendships with kids who face similar challenges in life. When he is not competing, Austin dedicates his time to collecting pledges for the Special Olympics program and has raised over $3,400.

  Austin has been an inspiration to everyone around him, especially his sister, Calista. Knowing how much Austin enjoys the Special Olympics, Calista created Calista Cares (CalistaCares.com) in which she makes and sells crafts to raise funds for the organization. Her mother explains, “At the age of 7, Calista has given up countless weekends to sell her crafts and has also held numerous bake sales and raffles, sold homemade suckers and ran a lemonade stand.”

  Calista has volunteered over 1,600 hours since December 2006 and has raised $8,058. She says she will keep going to make sure all athletes who qualify can continue to attend the competitions.

• Bailey R.

  Niceville, FL

  

  Bailey has been a caring girl from a young age. When Bailey was seven, the area where she lived was devastated by Hurricane Ivan. One day Bailey went with her mother to a checkpoint where troops were passing out water, and she noticed that instead of saying thanks, people were just complaining about the long lines. Bailey’s mother, Diana, explains, “My daughter was upset by this, so she went home and gathered her neighborhood friends to make thank you cards for the troops. Bailey decided to make it her mission to thank as many troops as she could.”

  Bailey started Hero Hugs, which is a 501c3 organization that works with children to send appreciation packages to deployed men and women serving our country. Bailey runs the organization and has raised over $460,000 to send more than 50,000 appreciation packages to deployed troops. In addition, Bailey travels around the country talking to kids about the importance of supporting our troops and getting involved in community service.

• Bradon D.

  Weedsport, NY

  

  Bradon is a member of the Jr. Friends of the Weedsport Library, where he works as fundraising coordinator to raise funds for the group to attend the National Book Festival in Washington, DC. His supervisor, Anne M., explains, “This year, Bradon coordinated the raffle, which took in a record amount of $1,424. He went to businesses in the community asking for prizes, and wrote letters and thank you notes to the donors.”

  Another fundraiser Bradon helped out with was selling cookie dough mix. In order to increase sales, Bradon went to a Poetry Slam at a local coffeehouse and read a poem he had written about the cookie dough, to encourage people to buy it. This fundraising activity raised approximately $300 for the Jr. Friends of the Weedsport Library.

• Brenden L.

  Mitchell, SD

  

  As a NESTLÉ® DRUMSTICK® Hero, Brenden is one of 50 children who work hard to make a difference in their communities. In 2008, Brenden’s aunt Sarah was diagnosed with liver cancer. With his family struggling to pay medical expenses, Brenden took charge and developed “Sodas for Sarah” in honor of his aunt. Every day he filled his wagon with sodas, water and ice and headed out to sell sodas for Sarah. With determination and love, he raised over $350 in support of his aunt.

• Brian C.

  Oswego, IL

  

  Brian spends much of his time volunteering with the Fox Valley Metro Disc Golf Club and the Oswegoland Optimist Club. Both groups offer programs for the benefit of youth and families in Brian’s local community. As part of his volunteer activities, Brian helps organize and distribute food, clothing and toys for the Oswegoland Optimist Club Needy Family Christmas Project. He also volunteers and plays in Disc Golf events sponsored by the Fox Valley Metro Disc Golf Club to help raise money for Hesed House and the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry.

  In addition, Brian helps promote participation in upcoming events through word of mouth and by communicating on Facebook with his friends. As a result of all his hard work, more and more youth in his community are getting involved, and more funds for these local organizations are being raised.

• Brittany S.

  Weston, FL

  

  Throughout elementary and high school, Brittany struggled with her reading skills. Her experiences led her to start "Britt's Books,” a program designed to help other kids strengthen their skills. To start her program, Brittany contacted her elementary and middle schools and developed flyers and announcements to solicit book donations. She then gave these books to the students of a Title 1 elementary school for summer reading.

  In the second year of the program, Brittany had enough books to expand the program to two schools. Her mother, Lori, explains, “Brittany hopes that by getting books in kids’ hands during the summer, the kids will read and their skills will be enriched. She doesn't want other kids to struggle the way she did.”

  Brittany’s story is a great example of a girl who overcame a personal challenge and used her experience to help others. Brittany’s program has made an impact on many children, helping them to strengthen crucial reading skills at a young age.

• Carter and Olivia R.

  Fayetteville, GA

  

  Carter and Olivia have been chosen as NESTLÉ® DRUMSTICK® Heroes for their passion and amazing nonprofit work. Carter and Olivia started their own nonprofit organization OMG, which stands for One More Generation (onemoregeneration.org) The mission of the organization is to help and preserve all endangered species. Their father, Jim, explains, “Carter and Olivia have been adopting Cheetahs for years now. As they started to better understand the impact of the word ‘Extinction,’ they became motivated to make a difference.”

  Their lists of accomplishments are long and include a Supply Collections Program where they have teamed up with local churches to collect supplies for the animal rescue efforts in the Gulf. Carter and Olivia are currently working on collecting $50,000 for the Cheetah Rescue organization in South Africa.

• Cierra W.

  Yanceyville, NC

  

  At a young age, Cierra was faced with a very difficult situation: one of her school friends was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer. Her friend had to leave school, so Cierra took it upon herself to bring a bit of the school back to her friend. She focused her attention on providing her friend with a school yearbook signed by all of her classmates, along with a picture of the entire 6th grade.

  Cierra’s grandmother explains, “Cierra didn’t have to do anything, but she was concerned about her friend. This experience has fostered Cierra’s desire to volunteer at the hospital and read to patients.”

  Cierra is a great example of a child acting selflessly to help out a friend in need. Her story proves that a little kindness goes a long way.

• Clay M.

  Chesterland, OH

  

  Clay is dedicated to educating his community about sustainable practices to preserve and protect the environment. He has created three outdoor classrooms for science activities and has received over $165,000 in grants and donated plants, which allowed him to buy science equipment, create wetlands, educate the public and help bring the Osprey from “endangered” to “threatened” on the endangered species list.

  Clay’s mother Irene explains some of her son’s initiatives in the community. “Clay decided to combat climate change by starting a recycling project,” she says. “He also installed a school vegetable garden and advocates for voluntary measures to reduce our community’s carbon footprint.”

  Through Clay’s determination, the local school board enacted a ‘West G is Idle Free’ policy for school buses and cars. Clay also received a $64,200 grant for school bus diesel particulate filters from the Ohio EPA, and an $8,500 grant for a rain garden he and his friends built.

• Crystal B.

  jasper, GA

  

  Crystal is improving the lives of foster children.

  Says Traci, her mother, “Crystal was an abused child who lived in seven different foster homes before we adopted her.”

  Through her “Teddy to the Rescue” project, Crystal has collected over 1200 teddy bears that were distributed to foster children throughout Georgia. She initiated a raffle that raised $500 for a local children’s home as well.

  “Now,” adds her mother, “She’s focusing on the abusers.”

  Crystal is working with Jasper’s First Steps And Healthy Families, an organization that helps parents who are at risk. She is also collaborating with Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver on a project called “Through My Eyes,” which will become part of the family court and drug court curriculum.

  Crystal believes a world without child abuse is possible, and a teenage girl can make a big difference.

• Dakotah F.

  Chula Vista, CA

  

  Dakotah is an exceptional young girl who is dedicated to preserving the environment and helping orphans suffering from HIV/AIDS at HOKISA (Home for Kids in South Africa.) For this organization, Dakotah created the program Messenger Dolls, in which she encourages family and friends to donate recyclable items in order to make dolls. The body of the doll is constructed from recycled bottles and the outfits are made from donated clothes or materials. Each doll Dakotah creates holds a bag with a message for an orphan at HOKISA.

  Dakotah’s mother, Liza, is very proud of her daughter’s hard work. She explains, “Dakotah is creating awareness among her peers, friends and family about the importance of recycling and spreading global awareness about the effects of HIV and AIDS.”

  Dakotah also auctions the Messenger Dolls at fundraising events, and donates all proceeds to HOKISA. She is truly a special girl, working hard to make a difference in the world.

• Derek F.

  Easton, PA

  

  Derek is a driven and dedicated boy who, along with some fellow classmates, started a mini-dance marathon that raised $200. And his devotion to community service doesn’t end there. Derek is also involved in the student council at his school, volunteers yearly in his church’s summer festival to help serve meals, and visits nursing homes during Christmas to sing carols and deliver presents. If this weren’t enough, Derek also helps his neighbors each winter by shoveling their sidewalks for free. He is truly a generous boy who works hard to help those in need.

• Eric B.

  Highland, UT

  

  Eric swung into action in 2007 after he discovered that invasive plants were growing along a hiking trail near his home. When he learned that the plants were harming the environment and causing problems for local wildlife, he set out to reverse the situation. Eric created the organization PLANT PATROL, and started recruiting 4-H clubs, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, church youth groups, neighbors and friends to help with the project.

  To purchase supplies, Eric applied for several mini-grants and has received seed money from Teens for Planet Earth, Disney Friends for Change, and Action for Nature. To reach out to more individuals, Eric also created an education program to teach the public about the damage invasive plants can cause to the environment.

  Today, Eric continues to work as an Environmental Youth Blogger for Action for Nature. For his next project, Eric will be recruiting individuals to plant native grass seeds in areas where invasive plants have been removed.

• Jeff C.

  Windermere, FL

  

  Jeff is a caring and motivated kid who decided to erect a September 11 memorial in his town as an Eagle Scout project. He went all the way to the mayor to get this project started. Throughout his journey, there was an outpouring of support for Jeff’s memorial and for Jeff himself. Windermere mayor Gary Bruhn praises Jeff’s efforts, saying, “As the Mayor, I am very honored to have been able to have a small part in the creation of this memorial, as well as in the ceremony where our town accepted and dedicated this most important piece of our nation’s history.”

  Bruhn hopes that Jeff’s memorial will enable future generations to learn, honor and appreciate the sacrifices that were made on September 11 across America.

• Jessica A.

  Waterford, MI

  

  Jessica is a girl who knows the importance of an education. This young lady loves school so much, she was inspired to help fund an education for a child in Africa. Her mother, Nancy, explains, “Last year, during her junior year of high school, our Pastor encouraged Jessica to expand her dream and help a whole school. Jessica began the C.W. Duncan School Mission last November, for which she has raised over $6,000.”

  Jessica now has a Board of Directors here and in Liberia. The Board has determined that 24 one-year scholarships will be given each year. Jessica has long-range plans to provide support to this school, and is planning a ticketed dinner in the fall, plus sales of t-shirts, African crafts, and speaking engagements to raise money for scholarships. Eventually, she'd like to build a library in the school and help provide school meals.

• Justin C.

  El Paso, TX

  

  Justin is a dedicated teenager who, at age 12, started building homes in Juarez, Mexico. This experience sparked Justin’s passion for helping the homeless. Justin now builds homes for the homeless through El Paso’s Casa por Cristo in Juarez, Mexico. These shelters provide homes for families at risk for a variety of health problems.

  Justin has built 16 houses, raised over $50,000 for building materials and recruited more than 75 new volunteers. He was also named the first ever “junior intern” at Casa por Cristo. Justin’s mother Laurie explains, “What makes this effort different is that it began in the heart of a 12-year-old and has grown into the passion of a 17-year-old.”

  Because of this passion, Justin has dedicated countless hours to volunteering in Juarez. He has given up three-day weekends, special birthdays, family vacations and other events to work towards this special cause.

• Kasey C.

  Reading, MA

  

  Kasey is a leader. She helped organize the Hoops for Heart Basketball Tourney and helmed a group that created “Teens to Tots,” a community service project dedicated to helping young children develop positive life habits.

  Kasey is courageous. She works hard to help eliminate bullying in her school, using her strong verbal and writing skills to speak out for those who can’t.

  Kasey is determined to do her best at whatever she attempts. She has even taken classes to become a better babysitter—and researched special needs because one of her charges is a special needs kid.

  Her mother, Michelle, says, “Inclusive, knowledgeable, fun, active, willing, positive, just a down-to-earth young person—Kasey is special.”

• Katie S.

  El Paso, TX

  

  Katie is not your average 11-year-old girl. She dedicates her time to providing food to shelters to help feed those in need. Katie began her mission at the age of 3, when she began growing a seedling of cabbage. That small seed grew into a 40-pound cabbage, which Katie donated to the local soup kitchen to help feed 275 people. Katie’s grandmother, Adele, recounts, “Katie knew she could do more, and do more is exactly what she did! Her school donated land the size of a football field for a garden, which Katie and her supporters tend and harvest.”

  All vegetables and fruits are donated to the needy, and to date, over 4,000 pounds of produce have been collected and distributed. Due to her hard work and determination, Katie now has six gardens, and her goal is to have at least one garden in every state.

• Kaylen L.

  East Grand Forks, MN

  

  Kaylen currently serves as MN FCCLA's State Vice President of Community Service and is also a member of the National Organization for Youth Safety's Teen Distracted Driving Prevention Team. As part of these organizations, she dedicates most of her time to planning and executing service projects in her community.

  Kaylen organized a service learning project in her local elementary school on physical fitness for Global Youth Service Day, she performed seat belt checks in the mornings at her school, she adopted a highway with her FCCLA chapter, she has planned and participated in food drives for the local food bank, and she participates in the Relay for Life every summer. There’s no doubt about it, Kalyen is a determined young lady, who is working hard to make her community a better place.

• Leah E.

  Tonopah, AZ

  

  Leah is truly dedicated to helping her community and making the world a better place. This outstanding young lady is a sophomore in high school and is involved in many extra-curricular activities, including Buckeye Community 4-H, Buckeye FFA and First Southern Baptist Youth Ministries. If that wasn’t enough, Leah also serves her community by volunteering at Trick or Treats so Others Can Eat, a program that collects food for the local food bank. Leah is a great example of a girl who works tirelessly to help others in need.

• Letisha C.

  Philadelphia, PA

  

  Latisha is a strong force in her community. She has been a Junior Block Captain for over four years and is dedicated to her role. She works with the Block Captain to ensure that her block is clean, that all homes are equipped with bags for trash, and that each block resident has up-to-date information about the neighborhood. While handling this responsibility, Latisha has kept her grades up, and has even been honored by the previous mayor of Philadelphia for her dedication.

• Makinsey T.

  Louisville, KY

  

  Makinsey is a 14-year-old hero who volunteers regularly at Georgetown Manor Nursing and Rehab Center. Makinsey has visited patients with puppies, animals from the Louisville Zoo and farm animals from the facility courtyard. She has dressed up as different characters, including The Easter Bunny, a hula dancer, a cheerleader, a flower girl and a Christmas elf to visit with Georgetown Manor residents.

  Makinsey’s mother is very proud of her daughter and praises her for working tirelessly to bring joy to others. She explains, “Makinsey displays a level of love and maturity seldom seen in a 14-year-old. She has a big heart, a beautiful smile, and a love for the elderly, which endears her to all.”

  Today, Makinsey continues to pursue her passion for helping the elderly. She goes on outings and pushes residents in their wheelchairs. She also paints their fingernails, assists in passing out mail and does daily in-room visits during the summer. She truly is an exceptional girl!

• Maria K.

  Plymouth, MN

  

  Maria is a bright girl who has always loved reading. A few years ago, however, she realized that many kids have never owned a book. This realization inspired Maria to establish Read Indeed, an organization focused on providing books to kids from as close as Minneapolis to as far as Africa, Costa Rica and the Philippines. In just two years, Maria has collected and distributed 400,000 books. Her dream is to collect 1 million books and distribute them to underprivileged children by the time she is 18.

• Mary-Grace R.

  Pensacola, FL

  

  Mary-Grace knows just how important good reading skills are to a child’s development. Two years ago Mary-Grace created a youth literacy program called The American Girl Book Club at the Southwest Branch Library. This program specifically targets girls, ages 7-12. Each month, Mary-Grace organizes learning sessions for more than 30 girls. The members of the book club have improved their reading skills as well as their understanding of American History.

  Mary-Grace’s father is very proud of his daughter’s hard work and for all she has given to the girls in her community. He explains, “My daughter’s greatest passion is empowering young girls through her programs. She is a selfless individual who donates her time and solicits community donations to keep her literacy club going.”

  Mary-Grace has donated more than 800 hours to her project, and she has a 4.74 weighted GPA in Pensacola High School’s International Baccalaureate program. She is truly an exceptional young lady.

• Mary Margaret O.

  Ijamsville, MD

  

  Mary Margaret is recognized for her devotion to helping others. As early as age 5, Mary Margaret started accompanying her father and their 5 month-old Bernese Mountain dog to visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities. On two separate birthdays, she demonstrated her generosity by giving up her gifts and asking instead for donations for the Defenders of Wildlife and the local homeless shelter.

  But Mary Margaret’s dedication to helping others didn’t stop there. Her father, Gabe, recounts, “In 2008 Mary Margaret asked me to help her develop the Kids Are Heroes® web site, (kidsareheroes.com) In the two short years of its existence, Kids Are Heroes has featured over 100 children from the US, Canada, England and Africa, who do wonderful things for their communities.”

  Recently, Mary Margaret completed her most ambitious project, Music for Life. For over a year now, she has volunteered at several fundraisers in order to purchase 250 MP3 players for children in hospitals.

• Mateo L.

  Arlington, VA

  

  Mateo is a strong and generous young boy. After losing his brother to cancer, Mateo dedicated himself to helping kids in the same situation. He helped to create the Mason Leach Superstar Fund at the Children’s National Medical Center, (www.masonleachsuperstarfund.webs.com,) to encourage and empower patients to recognize their inner strength and feel like a superstar. Mateo’s mother, Danielle, explains, “My son is an amazing boy. Even at a young age he understood that doing something positive in memory of his brother is the best way to honor him.”

  Mateo is a great example of a boy who demonstrated courage in a tough situation. To this day, he continues to dedicate his time to the Mason L. Superstar Fund to help keep his brother’s spirit alive.

• Matthew E.

  Pflugerville, TX

  

  Matthew is a Nestle Drumstick Hero who truly cares for the environment. He dedicates much of his time to motivating the youth in his community to come together and plant trees and flowers. Matthew created Parties With A Purpose to celebrate the environment and to provide a visible impact. To support these events, Matthew started Discover Green where kids plant trees, clean creeks and plant flowers. He is not only helping the environment, but also motivating and inspiring other youth to follow in his footsteps. Through his dedication, Matthew has gathered 317 kids to plant over 4,000 trees in just two years.

• Matthew M.

  Wilmington, DE

  

  When Matthew lost his close friend, Jack, to cancer, he was inspired to create a motivational memorial to celebrate his friend’s life. Matt has been a volunteer for eight years with the literacy organization Success Won't Wait, a program that donates books to groups, schools and organizations in need throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Matt’s mother, Susan, explains how her son found a creative way to honor his friend’s life through the literary program. “Matthew organized a selection of over 2,500 books, earmarked for every library in the state, and even delivered them,” she says. “He then created ‘book plates’ that stated that each book was donated in memory of Jack. Matt felt that this was a fitting tribute for a boy who touched so many lives.”

  Through this generous gift, Matthew ensured that his friend Jack would never be forgotten. He is a great example of a boy who demonstrated courage in a very difficult situation.

• Matthew S.

  Kissimmee, FL

  

  Matthew may appear to be a typical teenage boy, but his contributions to the community have allowed him to stand out among his peers. Over the last four years, he has been dedicated to working with Helping Others Make the Effort, a temporary housing organization that teaches life skills to women with children. Matthew has spent countless hours installing a basketball hoop and a full-size volleyball court for the children and teens. His mother, Mona, explains, “His hope is that this project will help kids focus on a brighter future, while also keeping them physically fit.”

  Matthew deserves a hand for all his hard work, and for dedicating his time to such a great organization. His project is sure to have a positive impact on many children’s lives.

• Michael J.

  Downingtown, PA

  

  Michael is equally devoted to helping those in need and has set out to make a difference in the world. After Michael’s dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Michael diligently set up a lemonade stand to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. And it didn’t end there. When his teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer, Michael set up a website to raise money for Breast Cancer research, which he donated to the American Cancer Foundation.

• Molly S.

  La Crescenta, CA

  

  Molly has a strong presence in her community through many volunteer efforts. When the Angeles National Forest was devastated last year by the Station Fire, Molly began volunteering at the Red Cross shelter. She worked from 6 a.m. to midnight each day, comforting evacuation residents, and she even encouraged friends to help join the cause.

  Molly’s mother, Mary, explains some of her daughter’s other volunteer activities. “Molly is a co-founder of the Prom Plus Club at her high school, which is an after-prom party that gives kids a place to go that is safe and off the roads. She has also just been named a student executive member of the Crescenta Valley Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition.”

  Through the coalition Molly has helped organize a youth house and has secured donations, such as television sets and a pool table. Despite all these activities, she still finds time to volunteer at church, keep up her schoolwork and have a social life with loyal friends.

• Neha G.

  Yardley, PA

  

  Neha demonstrated her passion for helping orphaned and underprivileged children by starting the organization Empower Orphans (empowerorphans.org. Neha has collected $50,000 and has made significant strides towards making a difference in the lives of more than a thousand orphaned, underprivileged and abused children.

  Neha has expanded her non-profit to help other parts of the world. In 2006, she provided stationary to each of the 200 children of the Bal Kunj Orphanage in India and helped to expand their library. Empower Orphans also supplies many necessary items to the Shree Getta Public School in India, and helps to fund the education of 10 underprivileged children. In addition to her work with Empower Orphans, Neha volunteers with Christ’s Home for Children in Warminster, PA, Mission Kids in Norristown, PA and Street Children in India.

• Nicole B.

  Deltona, FL

  

  Nicole is a great example of a young hero who is truly dedicated to helping underprivileged kids in her community. Nicole initiated and organized a jacket drive for kids at her local children’s home. She methodically collected jackets for three months, reaching out to local churches, girl-scout troops and schools for donations. Due to Nicole’s hard work, 203 jackets were donated to the local children’s home.

• Nicole M.

  Charlottesville, VA

  

  After being moved by the need for more donations at her local food bank, Nicole started Neighbors-4-Neighbors, a local food drive. She began by emailing her 13 subdivision neighbors and asking for donations of non-perishable food. Nicole received 220 pounds of food from that first collection and decided to spread her efforts across the country. Her mother, Terry, explains, “She emailed friends, family and government officials in a quest to obtain a ‘ton’ of food by the end of 2009, with an ultimate goal of 10,000 pounds. Nicole also talked to the media in an effort to spread the word about the need for food donations to aid our hungry community members.”

  Nicole is truly an outstanding young lady who is working hard to make a difference in her neighborhood. Her organization is sure to have a positive impact on many people.

• Paige K.

  Milwaukie, OR

  

  The earthquake in Haiti moved people all across the world to lend a hand, and Paige was no exception. This outstanding young leader was inspired to help Haiti by making Bracelets of Love to sell at her school and church. Paige’s determination led to dozens of friends joining the cause and helping Paige make and sell these Bracelets of Love. And Paige didn’t stop there. She also organized a group of 16 adults and 14 kids to run a bake sale, which resulted in $1000 towards Haiti relief. She is one of many young heroes committed to making a difference in the world.

• Rachel Ann G.

  North East, PA

  

  Rachel is recognized for her devotion to both academics and her community. She is a proud environmentalist who is committed to making a change. Rachel’s passion for the environment led her to create BeaCarbonCop.com, a website focused on motivating young people to make an impact on their communities by reducing their carbon footprints.

  Rachel’s ecology teacher praises her student’s efforts saying, “Rachel is a model student who shows a strong work ethic and motivation in all that she does academically. Not only does her work go above and beyond the set standards, but she never hesitates to lend a helping hand.”

  Rachel is a great example of a girl who is working hard to make a difference in the world. Her website stands as an inspiration to others to preserve and protect the environment.

• Rajeswari R.

  Fremont, CA

  

  Rajeswari is an excellent student, a tireless community leader and a committed public service volunteer. She is constantly searching for new ways to help others and demonstrates leadership in a number of student and community organizations.

  Valerie, a PTSA Officer at Irvington High School says, “Rajeswari is the first student to be elected to vice-president of the Parent Teacher Student Association at our high school. She also played an important role in the Pencil Project, an organization that raises funds for supplies to support education for thousands of children in need.”

  In addition, Rajeswari helps younger children by volunteering in reading and math programs, and has also helped care for newborns at her local hospital.

• Raven A.

  Las Vegas, NV

  

  Raven is a young hero who has had to overcome many personal challenges in life. At age 4, she was placed in foster care and was adopted years later. While still a foster child herself, Raven began her annual Christmas toy drive, which she has continued for the past eight years. With tremendous community support, she's been able to make over 12,000 gift bags, to date. Raven’s mother, Brenda, explains, “Raven grew up never knowing where she'd sleep, if she'd eat, or if she would be harmed. Raven turned her hardships into joy for others, and she is a hero to thousands of foster children.”

  In addition to her toy drive, Raven has written and co-written over 10 books for foster children. In her books, Raven shares her experiences and offers information about how the foster care system works. She wants foster children to know that others have experienced a similar situation and, most importantly, that there is hope for a better future.

• Ryan V.

  Las Vegas, NV

  

  Seventeen-year-old Ryan began volunteering with the Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) in the summer of 2008, where he participated in service projects that met a variety of different issues. Ryan helped the homeless by cooking and serving meals, participated in a workshop that dealt with issues such as sexual orientation, race and gender, painted a mural for a non-profit and more. When the summer ended, Ryan continued volunteering with YVC several times a week, despite living 45 minutes away.

  In 2009, Ryan helped plan, organize and implement the Tucson World Water Walk, a walk-a-thon designed to raise money to fund the construction of a well in a Ugandan school. Ryan’s passion and dedication helped make this event successful; he helped educate over 100 people, spread awareness of the global water crisis, and raised over $2,500 to help Rwentobo School get the clean water they needed.

• Simone B.

  St. Louis, MO

  

  Simone is passionate about volunteering in her community. She took the initiative to form a volunteer website, stlouisvolunteen.com, for the St. Louis youth, with the goal of creating a space where her peers could find volunteer opportunities. To date, Simone has placed over 550 students in volunteer positions. With the website’s success, Simone created St. Louis’ first Youth and Family Volunteer Fair, which drew a crowd of 600 attendees. Simone continues to devote her time to her own volunteer positions, while also using her knowledge to help other teens find volunteer opportunities in the community.

• Sydnie E.

  Midpines, CA

  

  Sydnie is an exceptional young lady. At age 14 she began a reforestation project to replant 200 trees that were previously burned in her community by the Telegraph Fire. Sydnie was dedicated to her mission, and was able to raise funds and replant the trees in under two months. Her efforts sparked interest in other community members, resulting in more than 50 volunteers joining her project. Today, Sydnie has planted nearly 3,000 trees, with a goal of planting 1,200 more trees before she graduates.

• Thomas P.

  Lyndhurst, OH

  

  Thomas is dedicated to helping his community whenever he can. He has volunteered at a domestic violence march, a leukemia lymphoma event and at the Relay for Life. He also bakes cookies, cakes and other sweets for his mother’s office bake sale to raise money for the local Rainbow Babies’ hospital. With his help, they have been able to raise over $500 in the last four years.

  Thomas’ mother is very proud of her son for dedicating so much of his time to helping her raise money for the local hospital. She describes her son as “a kind, well-mannered and adventurous young man, who knows everyone in his school from the teachers to the students to the school staff.”

  Thomas is a great example of a young hero who is making a difference in his community. His dedication and generosity will surely touch the lives of many people.

• Tyler J.

  Jacksonville, FL

  

  Fifteen-year-old Tyler knows just how important it is to help others in need. He dedicates much of his time to volunteering at the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House. The families there know him as the “soda pop king” because Tyler has been collecting and recycling soda tabs to raise funds for lodging, transportation and other support services since 2002. He acts as an advocate for his cause both locally and nationally.

• Veronica H. and Leticia C.

  Port Charlotte, FL

  

  Veronica is committed to making her community a better place by promoting literacy among children. She founded a book drive project called The Open Book Bag, in which she collects books and distributes them to needy children. Veronica’s mother Laura says, “This summer, Veronica completed more than 80 hours of volunteer service. She also has been publishing book reviews in family magazines since she was 12 years old, to encourage her peers to read.”

  Leticia is equally dedicated to helping others through various activities. She helps out with the CSI Youth group, volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, helps the local soup kitchen and helped to set up a shoe drive that resulted in over 1,000 pairs of shoes being collected for the non-profit organization, Soles4Souls. In 2007, Leticia also assisted in preparing Sunday School lessons for children while in Jamaica. Between 2008-2010, she has served as a Kingdom Builder, providing childcare services for toddlers of teen moms.