Connecticut's Top Youth Volunteers Of 2018 Selected By National Program

HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Grace Bergin, 17, of Farmington and Sivani Arvapalli, 13, of South Windsor today were named Connecticut's top two youth volunteers of 2018 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. As State Honorees, Grace and Sivani each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in late April 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 2018.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 23^rd year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

These are Connecticut's top youth volunteers of 2018:

High School State Honoree: Grace Bergin

Nominated by Miss Porter's School in Farmington

Grace, a junior at Miss Porter's School, has raised more than $144,000 over the past nine years to support the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Connecticut Children's Medical Center by selling lemonade. When Grace was in first grade, she was given a book about a little girl with cancer named Alex who raised $1 million before her death by running lemonade stands to fight childhood cancer. "I read the book over and over and decided that I too, wanted to do a lemonade stand," said Grace. After moving to a new town and learning that the Memorial Day parade passed in front of her house, Grace decided to sell lemonade in her front yard during the annual event.

That first year, Grace operated one stand and raised $226. Now, every year she has multiple stands along the parade route, as well as volunteers walking wagons up and down the street, selling to bystanders. To prepare, she sends emails to loyal donors in 42 states, recruits volunteers, makes online appeals through her website, and solicits local businesses for support. Whole Foods Market donates all of the lemonade and also lends financial support. In addition to selling at the parade, Grace has recently started serving her beverages at sporting events and local businesses. Since she started her philanthropic venture, two close friends have been diagnosed with cancer. "As well as being supportive of them during treatment, I also feel like I'm helping in a larger way, too," Grace said. 

Middle Level State Honoree: Sivani Arvapalli

Nominated by Indian Valley Family YMCA in Ellington

Sivani, an eighth-grader at Timothy Edwards Middle School, volunteers with a school group that has raised nearly $90,000 for child-focused charities by conducting talent shows and organizing benefit dinners and entertainment events. Six high school students started the "Power of Peace (POP)" volunteer group several years ago to improve the lives of children. In 2013, Sivani participated in the group's first fundraiser, a talent show. Inspired by her father, an avid volunteer, Sivani officially joined the group the following year. "I believe volunteering is important because it shapes people into better humans and makes them more selfless," said Sivani. "My decision was to make a change in our world, whether it is the smallest or biggest thing."

The POP group meets once a week to discuss upcoming events, projects and ideas. As one of their events draws near, members break into four teams to organize logistics, guest reception and donations, food and stage operations. When it's over, the members pick a charity to support with their proceeds. The group has raised funds for sick children at the Hole in the Wall Gang camp, "adopted" 10 orphans each year at the Atma Vidya Ashram in India, donated Thanksgiving turkeys to a food bank, and provided Christmas toys for a local children's hospital. On her own, Sivani also spent the last three summers tutoring children and organized a neighborhood lemonade stand to raise money for a school program.         

Distinguished Finalists

The program judges also recognized four other Connecticut students as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.

These are Connecticut's Distinguished Finalists for 2018:

Scott Elliott, 18, of Killingworth, Conn., a senior at Xavier High School, is the founder and president of "1BigCircle," a free social and fitness club for teens and adults with disabilities. Inspired by the social isolation of his brother, who has Down syndrome, Scott secured the support of sponsors, high school volunteers and Special Olympics to launch a club that could meet on weekends to promote friendship and wellness; within a year, it became one of the largest and most active Unified Sports Fitness Clubs in Connecticut.

Neha Jonnakota, 15, of Glastonbury, Conn., a sophomore at Glastonbury High School, is a co-founder and leader with "Power of Peace Group," a youth group that supports children in need at home and abroad by leading and participating in a wide variety of volunteer activities. After traveling overseas and seeing kids her age working instead of going to school, Neha wanted to help; in 2013, she and her friends started a program that has since raised a great deal of money and recruited many young volunteers to support their mission.

Mary Leydon, 16, of Stamford, Conn., a junior at Westhill High School, played a lead role in creating a buddy club in 2012 that supports students with autism and raises awareness of the disorder – an initiative that has grown to include 150 high school members. In addition to its youth activities, Mary's "Stamford Education 4 Autism Buddies" club recently opened a store to provide work experience to adults with autism.

Max Rosenberg, 14, of Fairfield, Conn., a freshman at Loomis Chaffee School, has been dedicated the past four years to raising money and awareness in support of the fight against Alzheimer's disease, efforts that have ranged from raising $42,000 to marching on Capitol Hill. Max has also been appointed by the Alzheimer's Association as a junior ambassador, advocating on the association's behalf to a Connecticut legislator.

"Prudential is proud to recognize these remarkable young people for using their energy, creativity and compassion to bring meaningful change to their communities," said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. "We hope their stories inspire others to consider how they can do the same."

"These middle level and high school students have not only improved the lives of the people and communities they've served – they also set an important example for their peers," said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP. "These honorees prove that you're never too young to make a difference."

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 affiliates of Points of Light's HandsOn Network, 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 April 30, 10 of the State Honorees – five middle level and five high school students – will be named America's top youth volunteers of 2018. These National 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.  

Since the program began in 1995, more than 120,000 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, Brazil and Poland. 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 middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and school leaders from across the United States. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. 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. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit 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 

SOURCE Prudential Financial, Inc.

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