The DeKalb County KEYS Initiative (Keep Encouraging Youth to Succeed) recently awarded five young people throughout DeKalb County with the 2013 Leaders of Tomorrow service award. This award was created to recognize and honor the contributions that young people are making in the community and to encourage all youth to get involved in community service.
Evan Guest
The Leaders of Tomorrow recipients were recognized and presented with a plaque during a city council meeting in their respective hometown. Award winners are:
From DeKalb: Evan Guest
From Genoa: Carinna Corbett
From Sycamore: Michael Hermes, Maddie While, and Susanna Martin
Michael Hermes, Maddie While, and Susanna Martin
The KEYS Initiative recognizes that youth volunteerism is a win-win for communities. Local not-for-profit organizations get help carrying out their mission and youth volunteers get valuable hands-on experience, a sense of purpose and a variety of benefits that help prepare them for their future. Volunteering is a valuable component of positive youth development.
In a statement by the KEYS Initiative, Mary Hess stated, “When you look closely at youth volunteerism, the statistics are really quite amazing. 60% of teens in the U.S. are active volunteers. On an annual basis, teens contribute 2.5 billion hours of service. Combined, these two numbers equate to teens contributing $35 billion in volunteer hours to the US economy. Coincidentally, Midwest teens volunteer at a 30% higher rate than teens elsewhere in the U.S. It just makes sense to promote youth volunteerism in DeKalb County.”
Carinna Corbett
The KEYS Initiative also helps connect DeKalb County youth with volunteer opportunities at their annual youth volunteer fair. Sponsored in partnership with the Kishwaukee United Way, the youth volunteer fair is designed to facilitate volunteer connections and help ignite the volunteer spirit that has shaped our thriving community. The volunteer fair provides young people and their families with a myriad of opportunities that compliment both their interests and schedules. This year’s volunteer fair will take place on Tuesday, April 8, at the DeKalb Park District Hopkins Park building from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Additional details about the volunteer fair will become available in late March.
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