2011-02-08 14:18:36 -

Shoshanna Goldin, 17, of Allentown and Hollywood Ruch, 14, of Mechanicsburg today were named Pennsylvania's top two youth volunteers for 2011 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its 16th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Shoshanna was nominated by Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, and Hollywood was nominated by Mechanicsburg Middle School in Mechanicsburg. As State Honorees, 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 several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2011 at that time.

Shoshanna, a senior at Moravian Academy, has helped raise millions of dollars as a spokesperson for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Children’s Miracle Network, volunteered as a news broadcaster at a local radio station for the blind, researched consumption of energy drinks by middle and high school students, and guided a school community service club in fund-raising for the less fortunate. “Four years ago, one brain tumor, 13 hours of surgery, and 10 days in intensive care altered my destiny,” said Shoshanna. “The diagnosis has never defined me, but it has sparked my ambition. My passion? To save others.” After her treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), she became a spokesperson for the hospital and for Children’s Miracle Network, composing speeches and traveling far and wide to tell her story and that of other young patients she has met. Her story and appearances played a key role in an endowment drive that brought in $400 million for a new research center at CHOP.

Shoshanna’s passion to help others has manifested itself in several other ways as well. Before it ceased operations, she read newspaper clippings at a radio station for the blind in the Lehigh Valley every Sunday. She conducted research into how many teens consume energy drinks and how little they understand the risks; her study won top prize in a national epidemiology scholars competition. In addition, Shoshanna is president of a women’s awareness club at her school, which has sold chocolate treats to provide a year’s tuition for a child in northern Uganda, purchased solar cooking tools for Sudanese women, and donated canned goods to a food bank. “I know the difference a group of committed teens can make,” she said.

Hollywood, an eighth-grader at Mechanicsburg Middle School, delivers dozens of speeches a year at school assemblies across the country to change the way young people view bullying, substance abuse, and drunk driving. Hollywood was injured in an alcohol-related car accident when he was 5, which knocked out six teeth and made it more difficult for him to tie his shoes, button his shirt, and write legibly. “Kids made fun of me and called me the spitter because I would spit when I spoke due to my missing teeth,” he said. A few years later, Hollywood realized he could help prevent others from suffering the same kind of experiences by speaking out. “I got inspired to give speeches because I saw the huge impact that Dr. Martin Luther King had on the world,” he said. Plus, “I knew that kids my age would be more apt to listen to me than an adult because I walk in their shoes.”

Each year, Hollywood hosts a walk/run event in his community and seeks support from businesses to raise money for his national campaign to warn kids about the dangers of bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, and drunk driving. He writes and delivers about 40 speeches a year, mostly at middle and high schools, but also at rallies, memorial walks, business functions and other events. Last fall, he was a keynote speaker at the 30th anniversary of Mothers Against Drunk Driving at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. “I believe I survived in order to be a voice for those who did not,” said Hollywood. “We all need to ask ourselves what is our purpose, what are we doing to help others?”


In addition, the program judges recognized eight other Pennsylvania students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.

Eric Bellis, 11, of Portland, a sixth-grader at DeFranco Elementary School in Bangor, raised more than $10,000 to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation by participating in the Walk for a Cure and coordinating a coin collection throughout the community. Eric, whose efforts are in honor of his two friends who are diabetic, also wrote to more than 300 celebrities and secured 50 autographed items for a silent auction that he sponsored.

Tara Hedden, 17, of Waymart, a senior at Western Wayne High School in Lake Ariel, raised more than $1,000 to support the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation by participating in a local walk, sponsoring a Mother’s Day Brunch, selling awareness bracelets and hosting a dress-down day at her school. Tara, who suffers from Crohn’s disease, wanted to raise funds, as well as awareness of the disease, by reaching out to the community and local media with her activities.

Breanna Lincoski, 17, of Daisytown, a junior at California Area High School in Coal Center, founded “Kid-to-Kid Connections,” a program where teen volunteers write letters of support and encouragement to area children who have loved ones in the Albert Gallatin Hospice program.
Breanna, a hospice volunteer, hopes to expand her program to all local hospitals so she can reach more children in need of support.

Brian McWilliams, 16, of Wexford, a sophomore at Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, raised more than $30,000 to help pay for medical costs incurred by the 4-year-old son of his former cross country coach by coordinating a charity run that featured more than 800 participants.
Brian created the “Team Alex Fund,” handled all event logistics, recruited volunteers to assist, and is already planning the 2011 event with hopes to double the earnings.

Lauren O’Grady, 17, of Lancaster, a junior at Manheim Township High School, founded ECHO (Encore Community Humanitarian Outreach), a youth service organization featuring Lauren’s fellow dancers at the Encore Dance Center. Lauren, who founded ECHO in 2009, has coordinated service projects including classes at the Boys & Girls Club, cleaning and helping at a day-care center, raising money for earthquake-ravaged Haiti, and raising $5,000 for Down syndrome awareness.

Kendall Ohrwashel, 17, of Nazareth, a junior at Nazareth Area High School, has raised more than $15,000 to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation by coordinating a book drive and sale every summer since 2007. Kendall, whose 2010 earnings helped to fund a wish for her sister’s friend, collects book donations throughout the year and, after the sale, donates any leftover books to local charitable organizations.

Calista Pierce, 11, of Guys Mills, a fifth-grader at Maplewood Elementary School in Townville, has raised more than $10,000 to support her local Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Calista, inspired by her brother who is a Special Olympic athlete, started “Calista Cares” when she was only 7 years old and has since raised funds by hosting lemonade stands, bake sales, raffles, and by selling homemade craft items.

Emily Zauzmer, 14, of Dresher, a freshman at Upper Dublin High School in Fort Washington, raised nearly $4,000 to support a peanut allergy study through the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America. Emily, who suffers from allergies, raised the money by creating a website called “EZgreetings,” where she sells e-mail singing grams that she sings and records herself.

“These award recipients have proven that young people across America are critical to the future of our neighborhoods, our nation, and our world,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “Each and every one of these honorees deserve our respect and admiration, and we hope by shining a light on them, they will continue to serve as an example for others.”


“The young people recognized by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards demonstrate an enormous capacity for giving and reaching out to those in need,” said Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. “NASSP is proud to honor these student leaders because they are wonderful examples of the high caliber of young people in our nation’s schools today.”


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 affiliates of HandsOn Network, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. More than 5,000 Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.

While in Washington, D.C., the 102 State Honorees will tour the capital’s landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. In addition, 10 of them – five middle level and five high school students – will be named National Honorees on May 2 by a prestigious national selection committee. These honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit, charitable organizations of their choice.

Serving on the national selection committee will be John Strangfeld of Prudential; Jana Frieler, president of NASSP; Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of the Points of Light Institute & Hands On Network; Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO of the America’s Promise Alliance; Donald T. Floyd Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council; Pamela Farr, the American Red Cross’ national chair of volunteers; Elson Nash, associate director for project management at the Corporation for National and Community Service; Michael Cohen, president and CEO of Achieve, Inc.; and two 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community National Honorees: Shannon McNamara of Basking Ridge, N.J., and Benjamin Sater of Plano, Texas.

In addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program will be distributing President’s Volunteer Service Awards to more than 2,800 of its Local Honorees this year on behalf of President Barack Obama. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represent the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service.

Since the program began in 1995, more than 95,000 young volunteers nationwide have been honored at the local, state or national level. Many prominent public figures have assisted in saluting these honorees over the years, including Jimmy Carter, Barbara Bush, Magic Johnson, John Glenn, Madeleine Albright, Rudy Giuliani, Whoopi Goldberg, Colin Powell, Peyton Manning, Laura Bush, and Condoleezza Rice. The program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland and India.

For information on all of this year’s Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. .

In existence since 1916, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. NASSP’s mission is to promote excellence in school leadership. The National Honor Society ®, National Junior Honor Society ®, National Elementary Honor Society™, and National Association of Student Councils ® are all NASSP programs. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, Va., visit www.nassp.org : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. or call 703-860-0200.

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, investment management, and real estate services. 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/ : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww ..

Editors: Graphics depicting the award program’s logo and medallions may be downloaded from spirit.prudential.com.

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Prudential FinancialHarold Banks(973) 802-8974 (office)(973)
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