Two Delaware 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 Delaware students, Anna Schuck, 17, of Wilmington and Matthew Waldman, 14, of Delmar 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.

Anna and Matthew were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Delaware 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.

"Anna and Matthew 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."

Anna, a senior at The Charter School of Wilmington, founded a school club that has raised more than $28,000 to help build a boys school in Uganda by organizing benefit rock concerts. The H.U.G. Club (for "Helping the Underprivileged Globally") was launched after Anna saw a documentary about the horrific effects of a 21-year civil war in northern Uganda. "I couldn't bear to watch the injustices taking place before me," said Anna. "Why was no one doing anything? How could we sit back and watch millions of people suffer and do nothing?"

While Anna's club has worked on several projects, its biggest undertaking was "Rock Uganda," a series of seven concerts featuring more than 40 rock bands. For each show, Anna secured the venue, recruited the performers, distributed promotional flyers, obtained donations from local businesses, and enlisted a large group of young volunteers to help at the event. With more than 300 youth attending each concert, the shows have raised $14,500 to provide dormitories, sanitation facilities, teachers, books and other necessities for the Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School in Uganda. And many more people have been made aware of the strife in Uganda and the plight of children there, according to Anna.

Matthew, an eighth-grader at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in Salisbury, Md., organized and participated in a variety of volunteer activities benefiting his school, community, the Salvation Army and the Humane Society. "I believe in serving my community, looking at the global picture and helping those who are reaching out for help and who are in need," Matthew said.

Instead of celebrating his last two birthdays with parties and presents, Matthew organized and hosted a student dance, asking attendees to donate food and care items for lost, abandoned and neglected animals residing at a local Humane Society shelter. "I felt it was important because the animals are helpless," he said. Matthew also worked an entire weekend serving food at a charity antique show, solicited donations as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, purchased Christmas gifts for disadvantaged children, and participated in the Humane Society's annual fund-raising walk. "I learned that there is so much in this world that is so wrong and we all need to help each other," he said. "You have a say in what happens in this world. You can either help it or hurt it. Don't be afraid to go out there and help others."

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.

Ten of the 102 were named America's top ten youth volunteers for 2008 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters today. These National Honorees received additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies for the schools that nominated them, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for charities of their choice. [The ceremony can be viewed at www.prudential.com/spirit.]

The ten National Honorees are: