Points of Light Youth Division generationOn Recognizes Extraordinary Achievements in Service

Hasbro Community Action Awards Honor Kids' Accomplishments

ATLANTA, June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As our nation struggles with continuing crucial challenges, Points of Light Institute's generationOn last night honored inspirational achievements of young people who have significantly transformed communities for the better. They were honored June 28 at a gala event in New York City at the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, co-convened by Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Hannah Salwen of Atlanta is one of six amazing children who were named inaugural Hasbro Community Action Hero Award winners. When Hannah was 14, she saw a homeless person adjacent to a luxury car. If someone did not have such a nice car, "that other man could have a meal," she observed. From that realization grew an amazing act. She convinced her family to sell its large home, move to a smaller one, and donate half the sales price to charity. The family ended up donating $800,000 to help end poverty among villages in Africa, working with the Hunger Project.

Hannah, now 17 years old, takes her message to schools, religious groups, and others to encourage them to recognize that they have more than enough of something in their lives, be it time, talent, or money.

Other winners of the Hasbro Community Action Hero awards are:

Cole Layman, 12, started the Paws for Peace Kids Care Club in Tampa, which he led in 20 projects. When he moved to Virginia last year, he volunteered to help younger students who needed academic and social help. He also helped the school establish its first annual Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Alexandria Segovia, 16, a junior CERT, has trained another 35 teens in emergency response, has completed more than 500 hours of service through the HandsOn Miami action center, and before each service day personally calls and emails elected state officials.

Shaeli Marie Funk, 11, of Jackson, WY, collects gently-used items to donate each month to nonprofits, and filled 92 stockings during the holidays for a nursing home.  With the “Under the Stairs” club she started, she and others collect stuffed animals for police and firefighters to give to children in times of crisis.

Faith Nelson, 10, of Greensboro, NC, plays a pivotal role at the Cougar Kids Care Club in Greensboro, NC, where she has helped establish a recycling program, fed six families for Thanksgiving, and collected 1,000 cans in a food drive. She has also played a role in providing weekly treats for teachers and participated in a four-hour vow of silence to honor children silenced by poverty.

JT Eden, 7, of San Carlos, CA, founded a service club named Planet Protectors and invited his second-grade classmates to join. They have raised $1,200 for Red Cross Haiti relief and provided packages of needed items to Marines in Afghanistan.

About Points of Light Institute

Points of Light Institute inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world. The Institute has a global focus to redefine volunteerism and civic engagement for the 21st century, putting people at the center of community problem solving. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas that help people act upon their power to make a difference. Points of Light Institute operates three dynamic business units that share our mission: HandsOn Network, MissionFish and the Civic Incubator.

generationOn, newly created within Points of Light Institute, mobilizes the energy, ingenuity, and compassion of young people, beginning at an early age, to discover their power and potential to solve real-world problems through service and service learning. Partnering with youth, students, families, schools, educators, nonprofits and corporations, generationOn not only gives kids the opportunity to see firsthand the issues in their communities and around the globe, but also gives them the tools they need to respond and become part of the solution.

SOURCE Points of Light Institute

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED