National Award Ceremony In Washington, D.C.
May31
Two Nebraska students, Jordan Somer, 16, of Papillion and Jaden Moore, 13, of Norfolk, were honored in the nation's capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2010 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 former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Olympic snowboarding champion Seth Wescott at the 15th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
Jordan and Jaden were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Nebraska 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.
"The Prudential Spirit of Community honorees give us great hope for the future,” said Dr. Rice. "Their compassion and commitment are already making a real difference in so many lives, and I have no doubt that their leadership will continue to positively impact the world for many years to come.”
Jordan, a junior at Central High School in Omaha, founded an annual "Miss Amazing Pageant” for disabled girls and women, and has donated more than $15,000 from ticket and auction sales to charities over the past three years. "There are no pageants for girls and women with disabilities,” explained Jordan, who was Nebraska's Junior Teen Queen in the National American Miss pageant in 2007, and has been an active volunteer with Special Olympics. "They aspire to be queens just like any other girl.”
Jordan secured a venue, contacted organizations that work with the disabled to find contestants, and obtained donated trophies and medals for prizes. She created a program, wrote a script for the show, coordinated a silent auction, planned a reception and luncheon, and supervised details such as flowers, tickets, and crowns. Jordan recruited classmates and other teens in her community to assist at the event. The revenue raised has gone to Ronald McDonald House, The Salvation Army, and local charities. In addition, more than 500 pounds of canned food – collected as pageant entry fees – have been donated to feed the hungry. "I continue to be touched by the participants each year,” said Jordan. "I am so proud of what they accomplish.”
Jaden, a 4-H member with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and a seventh-grader at Norfolk Middle School, has made hundreds of colorful pillowcases over the past two years for sick and abused children. Jaden was introduced to the pillowcase idea when the local extension office asked 4-H families to make kid-friendly pillowcases. She helped deliver them to the hospital and was touched by the children's response. "It made me feel wonderful to see how happy they were when they picked one out,” she said.
Realizing that the supply of pillowcases would eventually run out, Jaden decided she wanted to continue the project. She appealed for fabric and monetary donations in a newspaper and on the radio, through 4-H and hospital newsletters, and with a poster at the county fair. Then with the help of some fellow 4-H members, she spent countless hours cutting fabric to size, pinning, sewing, and folding new pillowcases, which she delivered to the hospital's pediatric ward and to the child advocacy center of Faith Regional Health Services for distribution to children in dire need of some cheer. "When they receive their pillowcases, they know that people care about them and want them to feel better soon,” said Jaden. "Even the smallest things can make a huge difference.”
"Jordan and Jaden are wonderful examples of young Americans who care about the world around them and have taken the initiative to improve that world,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "We salute their effort, their achievements, and their spirit of community.”
More than 21,000 young people submitted applications for the 2010 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the Points of Light Institute's HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February and flown to Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.
Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 15 years ago by Prudential Financial to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. Since then, the program has honored nearly 100,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.
Source: www.businesswire.com