Youth Volunteers Honored In Nation’s Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honored Connecticut’s top two youth volunteers of 2012 on May 7, during the 17th annual State Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Patrick Briscoe, 14, of Newtown, was honored for conducting a penny collection drive that raised more than $1,200 to purchase two cobblestones and a granite paver on behalf of his hometown at the National 9/11 Memorial in New York City.

Sanam Rastegar, 17, of Weston, was honored for initiating an annual jump-roping fundraiser at her school that has generated more than $100,000 for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for children with serious diseases.

As state honorees, Sanam and Patrick were among 102 top youth volunteers from across the country who received $1,000, engraved silver medallions, and all-expense-paid trips to Washington, DC, for four days of recognition events. At the ceremony, Sanam and Patrick were each personally congratulated for their outstanding volunteer service by New York Giants quarterback and 2012 Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.

More than 26,000 young people participated in the 2012 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February, and flown to Washington with their parents earlier this month for four days of special recognition events.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 17 years ago by Prudential Financial to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. Since then, the program has honored more than 100,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.