Taylor Saraiva

Taylor Saraiva, an eighth-grader at Lemoyne Middle School in Lemoyne, led a school drive last fall to assemble 176 personal health kits for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

When she heard a church leader speaking about the needs of hurricane victims, Taylor decided to take action. “I thought that doing something to assist the victims would be a perfect way to show that my school really does care about others who experience difficulty,” Taylor said.

After speaking with the church leader and obtaining a list of needed items from a relief organization, Taylor designed a competition among homerooms at her school to collect toiletries and other personal-care items for personal health kits.

With the support and help of other student council members and a faculty adviser, Taylor created an informational flyer and distributed it during Back to School night, prepared “Katrina Kare” collection boxes, and finally assembled her 176 completed health kits and delivered them to Mission Central, which sent them to the Gulf Coast.

Many other items were donated to the Red Cross and local Goodwill Industries. “I have learned that no idea is too little and no effort unnecessary when it comes to recognizing the needs of others,” said Taylor.

Ellie Ambrose

Ellie Ambrose, a sixth-grader at Christ Presbyterian Academy, initiated an annual fund-raising run and carnival that have yielded more than $40,000 over the past two years for sick and disadvantaged African children.

Ellie was motivated to begin her project when she saw a slide presentation on poverty in Africa. “It showed tiny houses, droughts, and illnesses,” said Ellie, “Some children were so skinny it looked as if their skin would become too tight and break their bones. Once I saw this, I wanted to help!”

After deciding that she wanted to raise money with a race and a carnival, Ellie put together a plan with her parents and friends. She then delivered speeches to school and local groups to promote the run and raise awareness about Africa, made TV and radio commercials, and attended a lot of planning meetings.

On the day of the first “Ellie’s Run for Africa,” more than 70 volunteers helped Ellie and her family set up and manage a five-kilometer run, a one-mile “family fun run,” and a carnival featuring games, a dunk tank, an African cultural marketplace and African dancers and drummers.

A second event last September brought the total amount of money raised so far to $43,000, and a third run is scheduled for later this year.

Caitlyn Carlile

Caitlyn Carlile, an eighth-grader at Spartanburg Christian Academy, conducts collection drives in her community every three months to benefit a wide variety of charitable organizations.

“My faith has taught me from a very young age that I need to give just as God gives to me,” Caitlyn said. She began in January 2003 by designing a flyer on her computer and distributing it to 200 homes in her neighborhood, asking for canned foods for the Miracle Life Mission, a homeless shelter.

Caitlyn then started thinking about other things she could collect to aid the less fortunate, and recruiting other youth volunteers to help her. “Getting others involved is important because the more people who are aware of a need, the more items I can collect and get into the hands of those who need it,” she said.

Over the past three years, Caitlyn has collected school supplies for the United Way, cell phones for Safe Homes, used eyeglasses for the Lion’s Club, diapers and baby wipes for the Carolina Pregnancy Center, 1,700 pounds of newspaper for the Humane Society to use for cage liners, and 200,000 pop tops for a local Ronald McDonald House.

She also has continued to work on behalf of the Miracle Life Mission, providing the shelter with 1,500 towels, 1,175 cans of food, and 215 toiletry items. “All my life I have been taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive,” said Caitlyn. “By participating in these various projects I have learned first-hand that this belief is true.”

Welland Burnside

Welland Burnside, a senior at Maple Hill High School, has collected more than 175,000 stuffed animals over the past six years for traumatized children around the world, in honor of a young friend who died of cancer.

The day after his friend Alex died, Welland resolved to turn his grief into positive action. “My plan was to conduct a drive for new and gently used stuffed animals and place them on Alex’s grave on his birthday,” Welland said. “At the end of the day, I would gather the animals and donate them to the local Police Department so that officers could carry animals in their cruisers for children in traumatic situations like car wrecks or domestic violence.”

In just one week, Welland worked out a plan with the police, recruited friends to help, sent announcements to the news media, placed posters and collection boxes around town, and planned a graveside celebration. Since then, Welland has coordinated an annual “birthday” drive as a legacy to Alex, but has also vastly expanded his “Animals for Alex” project.

He has conducted many fund-raisers, placed collection boxes at community events throughout the year, and, with the help of friends and family, established annual collection drives in 37 states. His stuffed animals now are not only distributed through local law enforcement agencies, but also are sent to children’s hospitals, group homes, medical missions in Third World countries, young victims of natural disasters, and children in Iraq.

In addition to the animals he’s collected, Welland has raised more than $200,000 in funding and in-kind gifts for his project.

Savanna Petricek

Savanna Petricek, a sophomore at Midwest City High School in Midwest City, is a major fund-raiser, an influential ambassador, and a junior counselor for the Oklahoma/Tulsa Firefighters Burn Camp, which provides a fun and free camp experience to young burn victims.

Six years ago, Savanna was introduced to the camp as a burn victim herself. “I know from personal experience the pain one endures after being burned,” said Savanna, “The key to surviving and returning to a normal life is being able to discuss your problems with others in your same situation.”

More than 75 children from 5 to 16 years old attend the four-day burn camp, where they can swim, ride horses, play games, go fishing—and not have to worry about people staring at their burn scars. Savanna conducts an extensive letter-writing campaign to solicit contributions for the camp, asking businesses and other organizations both for money to run the camp and for gifts that are provided to the campers just before they go home.

So far, she has collected more than $15,000 in donations. She also seeks speaking opportunities at churches and in front of other groups to explain the camp’s mission and recruit volunteers. In addition, as a junior counselor at the camp, she shares her experiences as a burn survivor with the young campers.

“The valuable lesson I learned from my volunteer work is that I am no longer a burn victim,” said Savanna, “I am now a burn survivor and a volunteer who helps burn victims.”

Ajay Mangal

Ajay Mangal, a senior at Pascagoula High School, lost nearly all of his possessions when Hurricane Katrina flooded his coastal city, yet he devoted himself to distributing emergency supplies to other victims immediately after the storm, and helped many families clean out their homes in the following weeks and months.

“Everything my family owned had been washed away before my eyes,” said Ajay, “I lost all hope of normalcy.” But after realizing that some of his neighbors faced even worse situations, “I vowed to do everything in my power to help my family and community return to its feet,” he said.

Ajay immediately called upon classmates whose homes had been spared to meet at the local fairgrounds and use their knowledge of the town to assist the National Guard in distributing bottled water, meals, ice and hygienic items to hundreds of survivors.

After enough out-of-town volunteers arrived to continue the relief effort, Ajay worked alongside several out-of-state church groups to clean out the devastated homes of 20 families, ripping out walls and floors, fixtures, appliances, furniture and everything else contaminated by saltwater and mold.

At the same time, Ajay made a point of providing comforting reassurances to the homeowners that everything would eventually be okay. When his school reopened, Ajay organized groups of students to assist teachers and other personnel who needed help in recovering from the storm. And after he recounted his experiences to friends in other states, they responded by helping to raise more than $35,000 for Katrina victims. The experience, said Ajay, “allowed me to learn the significance of family, love, teamwork, friends, and the unimportance of material objects.”

Allison Gras

Allison Gras is an eighth grader at Cadda Middle Magnet School in Shreveport Louisiana. Caddo Middle Magnet is, and has been for a number of years, the number one middle school in Louisiana. While maintaining her place on the honor roll, Allison has been volunteering at the Irving Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (now known as Nursecare Long Term Care and Rehabilitaion Center) since early 2004.

“My mother was an employee there and always talked about how much she loved interacting with the elderly.” said Allison, “I wanted to experience it for myself.” So, at eleven years old, she went to work with her mother. “I’ve loved it ever since,” she said. Allison gets up at 5:00am on school holidays and during her summer vacations to volunteer at the center. She serves food to the residents, feeds those who cannot feed themselves, and transports patients to and from their rooms. She also reads to them, writes letters for them, takes them on walks, and coordinates activities such as bingo, board games, crossword puzzles, and craft projects. Even though her mother has changed employment, Allison continues to volunteer at the center. “Most of all, I play the role of one other person to love them,” said Allison.

When Katrina so brutally struck Louisiana many residents were evacuated north to Shreveport’s many shelters. Allison spent many hours helping the evacuees. She went to a local restaurant that volunteered it’s kitchen to a local Mardi Gras krewe, the Krewe of Centaur. There she helped prepare meals for over 2000 people. She also spent time with the young children displaced to the shelter.

Most recently she worked with a local church taking young children on haunted hayrides during Halloween.

Allison is eager to help in any way she can. She is a member of the Louisiana Club, Too Club, and G.A.L.S.(Give A Little Service) Club at Caddo Middle Magnet. Each of these clubs is a community service oriented club. Allison is also a student office worker, and a member of TAPs (Talented Arts Program) in drama.

In February 2006 Allison was selected as the middle school winner for the state of Louisiana of The Prudential Spirit of Community Award. One middle schooler and one high schooler from each state is selected. The awards program, now in its 11th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). As a State Honoree she received $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where she joined the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. They also spent time distributing books and reading to inner city elementary school children in Washington, as well as an audience with her state representatives.

Savannah Walters

Savannah Walters, an eighth-grader at Independent Day School in Tampa, created “Pump ‘Em Up” an awareness campaign designed to reduce the need for new oil drilling by urging drivers to keep their tires pumped up and thereby save gas.

“People don’t know that Americans waste four million gallons of gas a day by not properly inflating their tires,” said Savannah. She didn’t know either, until she spoke with photographer Lenny Kohm, who has spent years trying to preserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Kohm encouraged Savannah to get the word out about tire inflation, so she and her Brownie Troop distributed flyers to commuters, along with free tire gauges donated by Sears and Goodyear.

Since then, Savannah has held many more awareness events in her area, distributing thousands of informational flyers, balloons, and tire gauges. In addition, she has recruited friends and other volunteers to put on similar events in more than a dozen states, and created a Web site (www.pumpemup.org) for people anywhere who want to join her campaign.

Savannah also has taken her message to Washington, D.C., where she has lobbied Congressmen and spoken at rallies. “I’ve learned this is about a lot more than saving the Arctic Refuge. Wasting gas pollutes our air and adds to global warming,” she said. “This affects all of us and so it is very important to get the word out that there is a simple little thing that would make a HUGE difference—pump ’em up!”Savannah Walters, an eighth-grader at Independent Day School in Tampa, created “Pump ‘Em Up” an awareness campaign designed to reduce the need for new oil drilling by urging drivers to keep their tires pumped up and thereby save gas.

Kohm encouraged Savannah to get the word out about tire inflation, so she and her Brownie Troop distributed flyers to commuters, along with free tire gauges donated by Sears and Goodyear.

Rosemary Mason

Iowa City Hospice is a community-based nonprofit organization that offers care to patients, their families and friends throughout the dying and grief processes. We provide the same quality care to every patient, regardless of their disease, age, background or ability to pay. Iowa City Hospice adds life to each day by helping individuals and families make the most of their final time together.

The volunteers – nearly 600 strong – play a critical role in achieving their mission. Approximately 60% of Iowa City Hospice patients use volunteers, and there is an average of 90 volunteer assignments per week. In 2005, 78% of Iowa City Hospice’s funding came from Medicare reimbursement or commercial insurance, and 22% through community support. The fundraising efforts are very successful in large part because of their reputation for outstanding staff, volunteers, and services.

Rosemary Mason, a faithful dedicated volunteer since 1988, has made it her personal mission to ensure that Iowa City Hospice patients and families feel supported and cared for during their end-of-life experiences, and to “spread the word” about the value and importance of hospice care. Mason, their 2005 Volunteer of the Year, has recorded more than 1,300 hours of volunteer time – though they believe she has donated many more hours – in a variety of capacities.

Mason is first and foremost a Direct Patient Care volunteer, providing comfort and companionship to patients and respite to families. She was among the first to complete the specialized training required for a corps of volunteers who work with Alzheimer’s patients. She also was a charter member of a group of volunteers who work specifically at one nursing home, at times caring for as many as seven patients a week.

Mason’s dedication to her patients is unrivaled. When a particularly nervous patient had to go to the hospital for tests, Mason felt so strongly that the woman needed the comfort and calming influence of a familiar face that she stayed with her for 10 hours until all her tests were completed.

Hospice is available to terminally-ill patients who have six months or fewer to live. When a patient is actively dying, the needs of the patient and family can increase dramatically, and time is of the essence. As a Final Days and 11th Hour volunteer, Mason does not think twice about climbing out of bed at 3a.m. on a cold winter morning and driving in the snow and ice to hold the hand of a dying patient.

Mason has found additional ways to add to the quality of Iowa City Hospice patients’ lives. She formed a group of 20 volunteers who knit and crochet shawls and lap blankets for the patients. Often without realizing it, Mason assists with community awareness efforts and serves as a great volunteer recruiter, inspiring others to follow her lead. Rosemary Mason is a perfect example of the effect that selfless volunteering can have on individuals, families and the community.

Meredith Mitchell

Meredith Mitchell is a senior at Little Rock Central High School and has served in leadership positions on the Little Rock Mayor’s Youth Council for the past four years, helping to organize and manage a wide variety of environmental, arts-related, and other service projects for young people.

Meredith, who learned about the importance of giving back to one’s community from her grandfather, knew she wanted to be a part of the council as soon as she heard about it. “The members of the council seemed to be innovators and life-changing individuals,” she said. “It was amazing to me how big a difference students could make in the community.”

As the current chairman of the 100-member council, Meredith is responsible for identifying volunteer opportunities, recruiting members to participate in them, and monitoring their effectiveness. The council’s service projects include providing Christmas gifts to disadvantaged families, beautifying city streets and parks, supporting fund-raising events, working with the Arkansas Cares program for sick children, and raising money for the Arkansas Art Center.

Meredith also encourages council members to pursue service projects outside of council activities. “Community service can become addicting,” she said. “Every student should take advantage of an opportunity to volunteer because they will never regret it.”