DENVER, Feb. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Matine Khalighi, 18, of Denver and Dante
Lechuga, 11, of Firestone
today were named Colorado's top
two youth volunteers of 2020 by The Prudential Spirit of Community
Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding
acts of volunteerism. As State Honorees, Matine and
Dante each will receive $1,000,
an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early
May to Washington, D.C., where
they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states
and the District of Columbia for four days of national
recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be
named America's top youth volunteers of 2020.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its
25th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in
partnership with the National Association of Secondary School
Principals (NASSP).
These are Colorado's top youth
volunteers of 2020:
High School State Honoree: Matine Khalighi
Nominated by Smoky
Hill High School
Matine, a senior at Smoky Hill High School, co-founded a
nonprofit that has raised more than $130,000 since 2016 to provide basic necessities
for people experiencing homelessness, plus scholarships for five
homeless students. When Matine was in eighth grade, he enrolled in
a community service class and raised money for children in the
foster care system. "Months after completing the course, I started
to recognize a great need in Colorado," he said. "My state was severely
lacking in resources to support its homeless population." Matine
felt compelled to act, so with a like-minded friend, he started
"Helping the Homeless Colorado."
They spent months filing paperwork to attain nonprofit status,
applying for grants, securing corporate sponsors, developing a
website and promoting their organization through the media. Matine
then recruited volunteers to be members of a 20-person youth board
to govern the organization. After researching homelessness, the
group decided to focus on lobbying the state legislature on behalf
of homeless people; educating the public by speaking at schools and
community groups; and alleviating suffering by fundraising to
provide necessities. The organization also has sponsored "Outreach
Days" across the state, when volunteers distribute hygiene kits,
meals and warm clothing to those in need. Since its inception, the
nonprofit has distributed more than 41,000 items to Colorado's homeless population and has
allocated $15,000 to help five
homeless youth earn associate degrees. In the future, Matine said,
he hopes to expand his organization to all 50 states.
Middle Level State Honoree: Dante Lechuga
Nominated by Prairie
Ridge Elementary School
Dante, a sixth-grader at Coal Ridge Middle School, helps plan
and run an annual two-day sports camp that over the past five years
has exposed more than 1,000 kids to sporting experiences their
families could not afford. When Dante and his sister were playing
with a friend at a park one day, their father set up an agility
course with balls, cones and ropes that he had in his truck. "We
had so much fun that I begged him to organize another play date at
the park," said Dante. The next time they invited more friends, and
from that humble beginning sprang a family-run sports camp that has
become a significant event in Dante's town.
Now, every year, about 350 kids and 80 teen and adult
volunteers, including some of the top coaches in the area, come
together to participate in soccer, lacrosse, football and agility
training. Throughout the year, Dante and his family work with a
local church and athletic organization to register participants,
raise the funds that enable them to keep the cost down to just
$12 per child, purchase insurance and
secure sponsorships from local businesses. Dante and his sister
hand out fliers at local businesses and schools to promote the camp
and help recruit volunteers. Dante also helps register
participants, assists his father in preparing the playing fields
and equipment, ensures there are enough T-shirts for all of the
campers, and leads some of the sports activities. "It's a lot of
work," said Dante, "but if we can change the life of one child,
then it's all worth it."
Distinguished Finalists
The program judges also recognized four other Colorado
students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community
service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze
medallion.
These are Colorado's
Distinguished Finalists for 2020:
Patrick Boland, 16, of
Highlands Ranch,
Colorado, a sophomore at Connections Academy,
founded "Ferocious Fighters," a nonprofit that has sent about 1,000
care packages to children with a neurological condition called
complex regional pain syndrome; his efforts include recruiting
volunteers, collecting donations and organizing packaging events.
Patrick, who has the condition, also offers support and solidarity
by managing online support groups and sending letters to each care
package recipient.
Bianca Bryant, 17, of
Divide, Colorado, a senior at
Woodland Park High School, built the first dog park in her
community; to do so, she organized a petition, collaborated with
her local parks and recreation department, participated in local
hearings and held fundraising events that raised more than
$40,000 to cover building costs.
Bianca, an avid animal lover, decided to focus on this project to
give dog owners in her community a place to exercise their
four-legged friends.
Erin Egan, 16, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a junior at
Palmer High School, regularly volunteers with Special Olympics
initiatives; she is a Unified partner in eight sports, helps plan
competitions as a member of her region's Games Organizing
Committee, and holds youth symposiums to spread awareness of the
organization. Erin dedicates her time to the Special Olympics cause
because her brother, who has greatly benefitted from participating
as an athlete.
Mia Garcia, 18, of
Antonito, Colorado, a senior
at Centauri High School, started "L.I.G.H.T Project (Lasting Impact
of Generosity to Help with Transition)," through which she provides
duffle bags, hygiene kits, school supplies, coats and Christmas
toys to children in foster care, or who have to go live with
relatives other than their birth parents; her efforts include
raising awareness about her cause, soliciting donations and
corporate sponsorships, and assembling kits. Mia was inspired to
start this project after seeing loved ones struggle during their
transition to kinship care.
"In our 25th year of honoring young volunteers,
we are as inspired as ever by the work students are doing to
address the needs of a changing world," said Charles Lowrey, chairman and CEO of Prudential
Financial, Inc. "We hope that their resolve, their initiative and
their perspectives on society's challenges move others to consider
how they can make a difference, too."
"Middle level and high school students are doing remarkable
things to shape the future of their communities through volunteer
service. They inspire all students and schools to drive learning
with real-world challenges," said JoAnn
Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP.
"Congratulations to each of the 2020 honorees – it's an honor
to celebrate your commitment to creating positive change."
About The Prudential Spirit of Community
Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represents
the United States' largest youth
recognition program based solely on volunteer service. All public
and private middle level and high schools in the country, as well
as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red
Cross chapters, YMCAs and Points of Light Global Network members,
were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential
Spirit of Community Award. These Local Honorees were then reviewed
by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and
Distinguished Finalists based on criteria including personal
initiative, effort, impact and personal growth.
While in Washington, D.C., the
102 State Honorees – one middle level and one high school
student from each state and the District
of Columbia – will tour the capital's landmarks, meet top
youth volunteers from other parts of the world, attend a gala
awards ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural
History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol
Hill. On May 4, 10 of the State
Honorees – five middle level and five high school students – will
be named America's top youth volunteers of 2020. These National
Honorees will receive additional $5,000 scholarships, gold medallions, crystal
trophies and $5,000 grants from
Prudential for nonprofit charitable organizations of their
choice.
Since the program began in 1995, more than 130,000 young
volunteers have been honored at the local, state and national
level. The program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, India, China
and Brazil. In addition to
granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
program also distributes President's Volunteer Service Awards to
qualifying Local Honorees.
For information on all of this year's Prudential Spirit of
Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit
http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.
About NASSP
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other
school leaders across the United
States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school
leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student's
potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the
success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to
student leadership development, NASSP administers the National
Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National
Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council. Learn
more at www.nassp.org
About Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services
leader, has operations in the United
States, Asia, Europe, and Latin
America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees are
committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow
and protect their wealth through a variety of products and
services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related
services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S.,
Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability,
expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more
information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.
For Spirit of Community Awards
program logo and medallion
graphics, please visit
https://spirit.prudential.com/resources/media
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