Two Minnesota Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two Minnesota students, Anne Brooker, 18, of Minneapolis and Haley Sass, 11, of Frost, were honored in the nation’s capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from former First Lady Laura Bush at the 14^th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

“Anne and Haley are inspiring examples of young Americans who care deeply about the needs of others and who have taken the initiative to help meet those needs”

Anne and Haley were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Minnesota last February. In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week’s recognition events.

“The young people receiving these awards genuinely care about making a difference in the lives of others and have accomplished so much – in their own communities and around the world,” said Mrs. Bush, who delivered the keynote address at last night’s ceremony. “I thank and congratulate them for their outstanding volunteer work. Students with this kind of commitment and leadership ability are essential to the future of our nation.”

Anne, a senior at Southwest High School, founded a nonprofit organization when she was 11 years old that has since sent condolence packets to more than 20,000 people grieving over the loss of a loved one. Anne started her “Dragonfly Project” after a family at her church lost their 11-year-old son to a cancerous brain tumor. With help from her mother, she sent the family a sympathy card, a homemade bracelet and a story that describes the lifecycle of a dragonfly as a reminder that mourners are never truly separated from those they love. “The family wrote to tell us how much the dragonfly story meant to them,” explained Anne. “Their response made me realize the importance of letting someone know they are in your thoughts.”

Anne decided to begin comforting not just people she knew, but anyone who had lost someone close. She sent letters asking friends and family members for donations of time and money, and then started cutting out obituaries from the Minneapolis newspaper, looking up the addresses, and mailing out packets containing a dragonfly card, a dragonfly keychain, and the dragonfly story. Today, Anne’s nonprofit organization has more than 100 volunteers and 1,000 donors, and has mailed more than 20,000 packets to people throughout the U.S. and in Canada, England, Italy, and Japan. Anne gives about 10 speeches a year to community groups about her project, and also plans an annual remembrance event and a volunteer appreciation night. “Even a small gesture can change lives,” she said.

Haley, a member of the Faribault County 4-H in Blue Earth and a sixth-grader at Blue Earth Area Middle School in Blue Earth, has volunteered two days a week for the Frost Community Library’s summer reading program for the past two years, reading to children and conducting fun activities for them. “I have always enjoyed the library,” said Haley. “I wanted to improve attendance, and let kids know all the things you can do there.”

On Tuesdays, Haley selected books and spent an hour reading to children from preschool-age to fifth grade. On Thursdays, she planned activities for them, such as painting, drawing, dancing, and making crafts. At other times, Haley learned how to check books in and out, and how to find and order books using an online catalog. Haley did such a good job that the librarian asked her to continue volunteering at special library events throughout the year. Haley said her volunteering encouraged more children to make use of the library. “Some of the children in Frost had never been to the library, and now they bring their friends,” she said.

“Anne and Haley are inspiring examples of young Americans who care deeply about the needs of others and who have taken the initiative to help meet those needs,” said John R. Strangfeld, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. “By honoring them, we hope not only to give them the recognition they so richly deserve, but also to inspire others to follow their example.”

Nearly 20,000 young people submitted applications for the 2009 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the Points of Light Institute’s HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February, and were flown to Washington this week with their parents 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 14 years ago by Prudential Financial, Inc. to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. Since then, the program has honored nearly 90,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.

“The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is a fabulous partnership between NASSP and Prudential, allowing us to recognize the outstanding young people in our schools and communities,” said NASSP President Larry Bradley. “This year’s honorees exemplify the true spirit of helping others and by doing so they give America and the world a promising future, a future filled with compassion and hope.”

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are supported by the American Association of School Administrators, the National Middle School Association, the National School Boards Association, the Council of the Great City Schools, Girl Scouts of the USA, National 4-H Council, the American Red Cross, YMCA of the USA, the Points of Light Institute, and other national education and service organizations.

More information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees can be found at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.principals.org/prudential.

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.principals.org or call 703-860-0200.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) is a financial services leader with operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Leveraging its heritage of life insurance and asset management expertise, Prudential is focused on helping approximately 50 million individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth. The company’s well-known Rock symbol is an icon of strength, stability, expertise and innovation that has stood the test of time. Prudential's businesses offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services. For more information, visit www.news.prudential.com.

[Editors: full-color pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions are available at http://spirit.prudential.com.]

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