PND (05/23/2000) -- Prudential Announces Fifth Annual Awards for Youth Volunteers

For extraordinary efforts in helping the less fortunate, battling disease, educating young people, protecting the environment, and serving their communities in other important ways, five high school and five middle level students were named America's top youth volunteers for 2000 in a May 8 ceremony in Washington, D.C., capping the fifth year of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Each of the ten national honorees received $5,000, a gold medallion, and a crystal trophy for display at his or her school. In addition, the ten winners will have a total of $250,000 in toys, clothing, and other products donated in their names to needy children by Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc., the national charity of the children's products industry.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created by the Prudential Insurance Company of America in 1995 to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models.

The ceremony was part of a four-day celebration that brought the top two youth volunteers from each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to Washington with their parents to be honored for their outstanding acts of community service.

Selected from a field of more than 20,000 nominees, the ten honorees were introduced by Senators Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Susan Collins of Maine, co-chairs of the national selection committee. For a complete list of the award winners, see: http://www.prudential.com/.

"America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers Named in Fifth Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards." Prudential Press Release 5/8/2000.

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