Search for South Carolina's Top Youth Volunteers Underway

The search is on for South Carolina's most charitable kids. 

Prudential Financial is holding its annual Spririt of Community Awards program, which rewards youth volunteers with cash prizes, recognition and possibly a trip to Washington, D.C.

Students in grades 5 through 12 are invited to apply if they have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service within the past 12 months. Young volunteers can apply online at http://spirit.prudential.com or at www.nassp.org/spirit.

Applicants for 2013 awards must complete their online application by November 6 and submit them for certification to a middle or high school principal, Girl Scout council, county 4-H agent, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA, or affiliate of the HandsOn Network. Paper copies of the application form can be requested by calling 877-525-8491. 

Participating schools and organzations will select local honorees in early November. After that, all local honorees will be reviewed by a statewide council to choose the top two volunteers, one from middle school and one from high school.

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 on May 4 through 7, 2013. Runners-up at the state level will receive bronze medallions or Certificates of Excellence.

In Washington, a 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.

South Carolina's top youth volunteers of 2012 were Helen Clay, 17, of Columbia and Anthony Frederick, 14, of Columbia.

Helen was honored for raising $38,000 to make and deliver more than 1,450 teddy bears to brighten the lives of hospitalized children through “Helen’s Hugs,” an organization she founded in late 2009.

Anthony was recognized for starting an organization that has raised more than $19,000 for cancer research primarily by selling lemonade, and also working to improve the lives of seniors and the homeless.