New York State's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 11th Annual National Awards Program; Bronx and Brewster Students Earn $1,000 Awards, Engraved Medallions and Trip to Nation's Capital

Business Wire, Feb 14, 2006

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Honors Also Bestowed on Other Top Youth Volunteers in New York

Geneva Johnson, 17, of the Bronx and Brian McPartland, 12, of Brewster today were named New York's top two youth volunteers for 2006 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 11th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Geneva was nominated by High School for Health Professions and Human Services in Manhattan, and Brian was nominated by Henry H. Wells Middle School in Brewster. As State Honorees, each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees -- one middle level and one high school youth -- from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2006 at that time.

Geneva, a senior at the High School for Health Professions and Human Services, is the founder and executive director of a youth service organization that seeks to build pride and self-esteem among young people in the inner-city through a wide variety of volunteer activities. "I live in the Northeast Bronx, which has been a hot spot for drugs and crime," said Geneva. "Many youth are in gangs or on drugs and the rest of us are just held hostage to the violence in the neighborhood. I wanted to make changes in my community but could not find an organization that provided opportunities for youth to participate or get involved."

So, Geneva resolved to create her own organization. She found a mentor, took classes in fund-raising and budgeting, applied for grants, and with the help of a legal services group, set up a nonprofit organization called "Bring It On!!!" She then recruited board members, a core group of five youths to serve as program directors, and a team of 20 active volunteers. The group has sponsored environmental projects such as a cleanup along the Bronx River, art and entertainment "youth jams," and presentations on how young people can start their own businesses. Of particular interest to Geneva is her "You Go Girl Go" project, which tries to help middle and high school girls avoid teen pregnancy, develop self-respect and make healthy life choices. "My family has a legacy of teen pregnancy, and for many years as an inner-city kid this is what I grew up with and thought my life would be like," she said. "I felt if I could have one program to change the lives of young girls, this would be it."

Brian, a seventh-grader at Henry H. Wells Middle School, has spearheaded several initiatives that have raised public awareness and more than $7,500 to combat cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease he has had since birth. "My family has worked hard to help keep me healthy until a cure is found," said Brian. "In sixth grade, I decided it was time for me to take a leadership role to help the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation find a cure for CF. I also wanted to help others that fight the daily battle of living with CF."

To begin his mission, Brian organized a "Great Strides Walk" fund-raiser at his school, which attracted 100 walkers and yielded more than $2,500 for the foundation. Then he raised another $5,000 through a letter-writing campaign to family friends and other community members, which stressed how hard scientists are working to find a cure for CF and how much progress is being made. In addition, Brian persuaded the Hudson Valley Renegades baseball team to sponsor a CF Awareness Night during one of its home games, where Brian handed out CF awareness wristbands purchased by the team and threw out the first pitch. The team also gave free tickets to CF patients and their families for games throughout the season. "I will always have cystic fibrosis, a disease in which only half the people live until they're 30 years old, unless a cure is found," said Brian. "These events and activities that I was a part of are the beginning of what I can do to help find a cure."

In addition, the program judges recognized eight other New York students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion:

Michelle Engleman, 15, of Vestal, a member of the Girl Scouts Indian Hills Council in Binghamton and a freshman at Vestal Central High School, created a breast cancer education program that has been selected by Girl Scouts of the USA as a resource for scouts across the country. Michelle conducted research, created materials for the program, and made a series of presentations to scouts, their families and community members about breast cancer. She also has participated in an annual fund-raising cancer walk, helped coordinate a book drive for cancer patients, and donated hair to "Locks of Love," an organization that makes wigs for cancer patients.