This summer generationOn and Hasbro put out the call for kids and teens to join forces to do good this summer and become Community Action Heroes. Over 14,000 youth from around the world responded and organized service projects in their communities. GenerationOn selected 10 projects to receive $500 grants to continue their work.

Congratulations to the 10 recipients of the 2012 Community Action Hero Grant:

Isabel Talarico
Age: 11
From: Pennsylvania
Issue: Animals
This summer Isabel and her neighbor organized a charity dog wash to benefit Animal Friends, a local no-kill shelter for dogs, cats, and bunnies. They raised $100 by washing dogs and collecting donations. Isabel also spent the summer volunteering at a therapeutic animal center. She will be using her grant to raise more funds for Animal Friends. She will bring the charity dog wash to other communities, advertise for her cause, and sell t-shirts and homemade dog treats.

The Saylor Family
Ages: 10, 7, & 5
From: Tennessee
Issue: Hunger
Daniel, Brendan, Anna and their parents volunteer as a family with a mobile food pantry in rural Tennessee. Together they have helped organize, shop for, load and deliver food boxes for approximately 350 families and have loaded and delivered 60 cases of “Feed the Children” food. With their grant, they will supply healthy, weekend snacks for low-income elementary school children.

Michael Carpenter
Age: 16
From: Ohio
Issue: Literacy
Michael, age 16, has been getting together with a group of friends to support childhood literacy. They have held book collection events; given out books at local gatherings; and read to younger children. This project started as the idea of one teen but caught on with several youth in the community. With their grant, Michael and his friends will increase participation through giveaways and support special reading events.

Raygan Sylvester
Age: 16
From: Arizona
Issue: Health
Raygan organized a "Fairy Tale Prince and Princess Party" to raise money for Children's Miracle Network. She and her friends dressed up as fairy tale characters and set up a booth at the mall. They asked for a $10 donation for kids to meet the characters, get autographs and take photos. They raised more than $500 in one day. With her grant, Raygan will make educational materials and coloring pages and hold “Fairy Tale Prince and Princess Parties” in elementary schools.

NetZero Environmental Club at Fairview High School
Age: 16
From: Colorado
Issue: Environment
The NetZero Environmental Club at Fairview High School is dedicated to “greening” their community and raising environmental awareness among their peers. After watching “The Queen of the Sun”, club members were inspired to take action to address the bee crisis. “The Bee Project” mobilizes high-school students to build and care for bee hives on local farms. With their grant, the NetZero Environmental club members will build, populate, and purchase the materials to maintain more hives.

Natasha Suri & Siena Spitzer
Ages: 16 & 15
From: New York
Issue: Hunger
Natasha and Sienna created FoodSync in order to bridge the gap between the food waste problem in the United States and the issue of hunger. Every day they collect leftover food from local bakeries and deliver it to shelters and teen programs. Their Community Action Heroes grant will pay for the transportation, packaging, advertising, and website creation needed to bring FoodSync to every restaurant and bakery in their county.

Kids Care Club and Girl Scout Troop #80558
Ages: 5-14
From: Ohio
Issue: Animals
The Kids Care Club Troop #80558 led by Angela McCoy completed a pet food drive for their local no-kill animal shelter. The troop visited the shelter and learned about the needs of the animals. With their Community Action Heroes Grant, the troop will use the knowledge they gained to help care for the pets. They will expand their pet food drive and collect additional pet care items. They will also hold an “Animal Party” to make homemade treats, toys, and blankets for the animals. As they deliver their donations, they will help socialize the animals to improve their chances of adoption.

CAREcorps'
Khawater Hussein 
Age: 15
From: Oregon
Issues: Environment & Community Wellness
As a part of CAREcorps, Khawater and her group members wanted to put the “community” back in “community garden.” They completed a community garden and shelter beautification project. They built a community garden sign, built picnic tables, cleaned up the garden, and built plot signs. They gathered over $600 in donations of resources and volunteered more time than the national average. With their grant, Khawater and her group members will split into task forces and help various nonprofits improve their community wherever there is need.

HandsOn Greater Richmond's
2012 TeenImpact Campers
Ages: High School
From: Virginia
Issues: Hunger & Community Wellness
The TeenImpact summer campers at HandsOn Greater Richmond participated in two week-long themed service learning experiences. “For Art's Sake” focused on art as a way to enhance the community. Service projects ranged from painting bird boxes to creating a community dance performance with the local Boys and Girls Clubs. “Farm to Table” concentrated on food access and food justice. Service projects included working on a local farm, setting up a farmer’s market, and cooking a community meal. The TeenImpact campers will use their grant to buy the supplies needed for the next five-day teen service event with TeenImpact.

 The Smith Hill Community Development Corporation’s
YouthRAP (Resident Activities Program) Summer 2012 Participants
Ages: High School
From: Rhode Island
Issue: Literacy & Environment
The Smith Hill YouthRAP teens have been working to make a garden at the local library so the community can have a nice safe space to read. They have also been working at the community center, building fixtures to make the space accessible and user friendly. Lastly the teens have been working on the history of their neighborhood. They’ve interviewed local activist and historians to inform the community about the past. They will use their grant to maintain the garden and hold an event to welcome and celebrate the community.

Thank you to everyone who answered the call to join forces to do good this summer. The world is a better place because of you!

Want to be a hero like our grant winners? Check out our projects for kids, teens, and families!

Educators, check out generationOn Schools to implement service-learning in your classroom!

If you have any questions regarding the campaign, please contact Rebecca Webster at rwebster@generationOn.org.