 |
The 2012
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Harold Banks, Prudential 973-802-8974 (office),
September 6,
2011
973-216-4833 (cell),
harold.banks@prudential.com
spirit.prudential.com
www.nassp.org/spirit
application instruction sheet
informational flyer
17TH ANNUAL SEARCH UNDER WAY
FOR NATION’S TOP YOUTH
VOLUNTEERS
Recognition Program Honors Outstanding
Middle and High School Youth at Local, State
and National Levels
WASHINGTON, D.C.
– Over the past 16 years, Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have
been given to nearly 100,000 middle and high school students across
the country for helping the less fortunate, promoting health and
safety, protecting the environment, and serving their communities
through many other volunteer activities. This week the search
begins to identify thousands more who have made meaningful
contributions to their communities over the past 12 months, as the
prestigious awards program kicks off its 17th year.
These awards, sponsored by Prudential
Financial, Inc. in partnership with the National Association of
Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honor outstanding community
service by young people in grades 5 through 12 at the local, state
and national level.
“Since creating this program in 1995, we’ve been amazed every year
by the stories of young volunteers and their outstanding acts of
community service,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John R.
Strangfeld. “We’re delighted to honor these role models and hold
them up as examples of how young people can change their communities
for the better.”
Young volunteers
can apply online at http://spirit.prudential.com or at www.nassp.org/spirit.
Applications must be completed by November 1, 2011, and then
submitted to a middle or high school principal, Girl Scout council,
county 4-H agent, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA, or affiliate of
HandsOn Network. Those without Internet access can get a paper
version of the application form by calling 877-525-8491 toll-free.
Participating
schools and local organizations will select Local Honorees in early
November and present them with Certificates of Achievement. These
Local Honorees also will receive the President’s Volunteer Service
Award if they have contributed the minimum number of volunteer hours
to qualify (50 hours for age 14 and younger, 100 hours for those
older). All Local Honorees are then reviewed by a state-level
judging committee, which will name the top two candidates from each
state and the District of Columbia – one high school student and one
middle level student – as State Honorees on February 7, 2012. These
State Honorees will receive $1,000 awards, engraved silver
medallions, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., with a
parent for four days of recognition events May 5-8, 2012.
Runners-up at the state level will receive bronze medallions or
Certificates of Excellence.
In Washington, a distinguished
national selection committee will name 10 of the 102 State Honorees
as America’s top youth volunteers of the year. These National
Honorees will receive additional awards of $5,000, gold medallions,
crystal trophies for their nominating schools or organizations, and
$5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit,
charitable organizations of their choice.
“It’s an honor to
recognize these remarkable students and share their stories of
selfless community service,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive
director of NASSP. “These volunteers are the leaders of tomorrow,
and they give us great hope for the future.”
The Prudential
Spirit of Community Awards represent the United States’ largest
youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. The
awards program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries in
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland and India.
To be considered, young people in grades 5-12 must complete an
application online at
spirit.prudential.com or
www.nassp.org/spirit, and then submit it to a middle level or
high school principal, Girl Scout council, county 4-H agent,
American Red Cross chapter, YMCA or an affiliate of HandsOn Network.
Local Honorees will
be selected in early November, and nominated for state-level
judging. Next February, one middle level and one high school student
in each state and the District of Columbia will be chosen as State
Honorees and will each receive $1,000, a silver medallion, and an
all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in May. A number of
runners-up in each state will be awarded bronze medallions, and
other top candidates will receive Certificates of Excellence. Each
year, hundreds of applicants receive state-level recognition!
The national recognition events for the 2012 awards program have
been scheduled for May 5-8, 2012 in Washington, D.C. At that time,
our National Selection Committee will name America’s top ten youth
volunteers of the year. Each National Honoree will receive an
additional $5,000, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for display at
his or her school or youth organization, and a $5,000 grant from The
Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit, charitable organization of
his or her choice.
Here is an
application instruction sheet, an
informational flyer, and a press release. If you know of any
young people who should be considered for a 2012 Prudential Spirit
of Community Award, please encourage them to apply. And any help you
can provide in publicizing this opportunity throughout your
organization would be greatly appreciated.
|
Learning Recovery
Request Form |
