Two Massachusetts Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C

Business Wire, May 5, 2008

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Pays Tribute to Young Heroes as Part of Four-Day Recognition Events

WASHINGTON -- Two Massachusetts students, Patrick Kaltenbach, 17, of Newtonville and Laura Greenwald, 14, of Amesbury were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2008 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people - along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country - received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, at the 13th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

Patrick and Laura were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Massachusetts last February. In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week's recognition events. Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 13 years ago by Prudential Financial, Inc. to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. Since then, the program has honored more than 80,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.

"Patrick and Laura are inspiring examples of young Americans who care deeply about the needs of others and who have taken the initiative to help meet those needs," said Prudential Chairman Arthur F. Ryan. "By honoring them, we hope not only to give them the recognition they so richly deserve, but also to inspire others to follow their example."

Patrick, a senior at St. Sebastian's School in Needham and a member of the West Suburban YMCA in Newton, organized a volunteer effort in eastern Massachusetts that has provided close to 40,000 bags of microwave popcorn to U.S. military personnel stationed overseas. Patrick started his "TroopTreats" program after U.S. soldiers helped treat Patrick and other Boy Scouts overcome by heat and dehydration during the 2005 National Boy Scout Jamboree. "Back home, I recalled the soldiers' tales of relishing Boy Scout popcorn over a campfire, and an idea clicked," he said. "Why not help them relive those memories by sending popcorn overseas?"

After Patrick began his project three years ago, he solicited volunteer help from his Boy Scout troop and council, distributed posters and flyers, made speeches, sent out letters and e-mail messages, and participated in city fairs and open-air markets, telling all who would listen that each $1 donation could send a bag of popcorn to a service member overseas. He then arranged for a popcorn manufacturer to ship bags of corn directly to the USO in Washington for inclusion in its care packages for overseas troops. Since then, Patrick's efforts have expanded, and the Boy Scouts have begun a similar program on a national level. "TroopTreats started the way most things begin - with a simple idea and hope," said Patrick. "Nothing earth shattering, nothing great - just one outstretched hand meeting another...changing our world one person at a time."

Laura, an eighth-grader at River Valley Charter School in Newburyport and a member of the American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts in Beverly, created and sold a compact disc of holiday songs and stories performed by local children to raise funds for victims of domestic violence and disadvantaged people in her community. Seeking to combine her love of music with community service, Laura hit upon the idea of recording a CD and selling it to benefit local charities. "I wanted the CD to be different from what was already commercially available, and to represent the belief that I have in people and the hope that I have for the future," she said.

After selecting the music and literary excerpts for her CD, Laura obtained music licenses and legal permissions, recruited six local children to join her and her brother as performers, and scheduled rehearsals. Then she secured donations of studio time and technical assistance to record the 54-minute CD. When it was finished, Laura promoted it by sending copies to radio stations, issuing press releases, distributing posters and flyers, setting up a Web site (www.believe-CD.com), and placing it in local CD stores. Laura sold more than 450 copies of her CD, which enabled her to donate over $3,500 to the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center in Newburyport and Pettengill House in Salisbury.

Applications for the 2008 awards program were submitted last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and Volunteer Centers affiliated with the Points of Light & Hands On Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state and the District of Columbia were announced in February. These 102 State Honorees are in Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.