Two Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin students, Megan Behn, 18, of Weyauwega and Nchinda Nchinda, 12, of Oak Creek 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.

Megan and Nchinda were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Wisconsin 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.

"Megan and Nchinda 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."

Megan, a senior at Weyauwega-Fremont High School, helped raise nearly $170,000 to build a new animal shelter for the Humane Society of Waupaca County, and has been a leader in a variety of other activities that benefit animals in her community. "I was motivated to do this volunteer work because I love animals and teaching," Megan said. "I believe that the Humane Society fills an important role within our county."

As her school service club's project manager for all activities related to animals, Megan was well-positioned to take action when the Humane Society announced a new building campaign. She, along with a former student, began planning a fund-raising "pet walk." Megan obtained permission to hold the event on school property and made presentations to her fellow service club members to recruit volunteers. She worked with Humane Society officials to publicize the walk, asked local businesses to provide sponsorships, and encouraged residents to make contribution pledges. The pet walk was such a success that Megan soon scheduled another one, and a local philanthropist matched all of the proceeds. Megan also helped raise money for the Humane Society at soup suppers, fish dinners, dances and other events; helped middle school volunteers make dog biscuits to sell at holiday craft fairs; and coordinated a "Trick or Treat for the Pets" fund-raiser at Halloween. In addition, she is working to educate the public about the procedures to follow when evacuating pets and farm animals in a crisis.

Nchinda, a seventh-grader at Oak Creek East Middle School, helped create a fruit and vegetable garden at his school along with an annual "Harvest Celebration" dinner that serves the garden's produce to raise money for a local food pantry. "My dad has always told me that I should be a 'fixer-man,'" said Nchinda, who started volunteering when he joined his school's service-learning club.

Nchinda and other club members used funds from a Learn and Serve Grant and donations from a letter-writing campaign to purchase gardening supplies. Nchinda worked after school and during recess to prepare the soil, plant seeds, and spread fertilizer. "We turned it into a school project and assigned each classroom a section of the garden," Nchinda said. When fall arrived, he helped harvest the crops, which were then cooked and served at a fund-raising dinner that Nchinda and others coordinated. The proceeds were donated to the Second Harvest Food Pantry. "I feel good knowing that we helped a couple more people in the world rest easy," Nchinda said. "If everybody helped everybody else, the world would be a much better place."

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.]