VOLUNTEERING ACROSS AMERICA America’s Top 10 Youth Volunteers Named

(NAPSI)-America is paying tribute to 10 middle and high school students from across the country for their extraordinary efforts in serving others through volunteerism. Ranging in age from 12 to 18, the 10 National Honorees received personal awards of $5,000, engraved gold medallions, crystal trophies for the schools that nominated them and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for the charities of their choice. The 10 National Honorees named for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were selected on the basis of their personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth. Two of the National Honorees are cancer survivors who now spend a great deal of time providing hope and inspiration to other young people with the disease. One of these, Bria Brown, 14, of Miami Gardens, Fla., a five-year cancer survivor, recruited friends, classmates and her Girl Scout troop to help her conduct a drive in her community to collect teddy bears, which she personalizes and delivers to other young cancer patients to bring them hope and encouragement. Another honoree, Kristen Allcorn, 18, of Sedalia, Mo., founded a soup kitchen that provides a hot evening meal five days a week, serving needy residents at tables as if they were eating in a restaurant. Called The Community Café, Kristen’s kitchen has served more than 15,000 meals since December 2006. Other National Honorees started an international kids organization to address needs around the world, sent CDs and DVDs to American troops serving overseas, organized a “Freedom Walk” to commemorate 9/11 and educated others about depression and suicide. Another Honoree rallied her community to build a modular home at her school for a victim of Hurricane Katrina, and then transported it to Mississippi. The National Honorees were announced during a four-day celebration that brought the top two youth volunteers from each state to Washington, D.C., with their parents, to be recognized for their outstanding acts of community service. All were personally congratulated by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, at a gala dinner reception at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. For the names of all the honorees, visit www.prudential.com/spirit. Kristen Allcorn of Sedalia, Mo., is one of the inspiring examples of young Americans who care deeply about the needs of others.

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