WASHINGTON- Even as the effects of the Great Recession loom in the background volunteerism and community service has held steady. For 18 years Prudential Financial has been honoring young people who support their communities by volunteering and starting non-profits.
“What we want to do is shine a light on a number of great examples around the country and hopefully what that does is encourage other young people to get involved,” said Greg Loder Executive Director of Prudential’s Spirit of Community Awards.
Loder and his team winnowed down the pool of 28,000 applicants to two students per state. On Monday, 102 high school and middle school students were honored at the Chamber of Commerce building in Washington, DC.
Each state awardee receives $1,000 from the foundation, a medallion and an all expense paid trip to Washington, DC for them and a parent. On the last day of celebration weekend 10 students are chosen as the Top Youth Volunteers 2013. Those students get $5,000 grant as well as another $5,000 to donate to the charity of their choice. Many recipients chose to deflect the praise and congratulate their fellow honorees.
“You all deserve this,” said Michael-Logan Jordan during his acceptance speech. Jordan is a 14 year old from Kauilua Hawaii and suffers from juvenile arthritis. For the past eight years he has collected Christmas cards, clothing and other items for soldier and children in need. He also raised more than $10,000 for the National Arthritis Foundation.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics people 28 percent of people Jordan’s age volunteer, logging more than 1.7 millions hours. Service and community activism were a prominent them in President Obama’s recent address to the graduating class of Ohio State University.
“And yet, despite all this, or more likely because of it, yours has become a generation possessed with that most American of ideas – that people who love their country can change it. For all the turmoil; for all the times you have been let down, or frustrated at the hand you’ve been dealt; what I have seen from your generation are perennial and quintessentially American values. Altruism. Empathy. Tolerance. Community. And a deep sense of service that makes me optimistic for our future,” said President Obama.
The independent federal agency that compiles volunteer data, Volunteering and Civic Life says that although the numbers dropped slightly in 2012 a record 28 percent of Americans volunteer.