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 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.

Faith Nelson of Greensboro, NC, is one of six amazing children who were named inaugural Hasbro Community Action Hero award-winners by generationOn, the youth services division of Points of Light Institute:

Faith, who is 10 years old, 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.

Her school counselor said, "Faith worked with a compassion that came from the inside out. She has shown great understanding of the importance of these projects and always finds a way to put others before herself."

Other award-winners are:

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 annual service day personally calls and emails elected state officials.

JT Eden, 7, moved to San Carlos, CA, and immediately began a service club for his second-grade classmates, which they named Planet Protectors. It raised $1,200 for the Red Cross and created packages of needed items for Marines in Afghanistan.

Cole Layman, 12, founded the Paws for Peace Kids Care Club in Tampa, FL, and then moved and established a Random Acts of Kindness week at his new school in Virginia. He also helps younger students who need academic and social support.

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.

Hannah Salwen of Atlanta, when she was 14, saw a homeless man next to an expensive car. She wondered at the inequity in resources. Hannah eventually convinced her family to sell their large home, move to a smaller one, and donate half the sales price to charity. The family ended up contributing $800,000 to fight poverty in Africa, working with the Hunger Project.

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