Brentwood teen wins national service award
Page is the young founder of the Brentwood nonprofit Kids Helping Kids, which has so far given more than $50,000 to young people around the world. For his efforts, Page was named one of the nation's top 10 youth volunteers of 2011 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, which recognizes young people committed to making an impact in their community or beyond. More than 29,000 middle and high school students participated in the Prudential program this year. As one of 100 finalists for the award, Page already was attending a four-day celebration in the capital this week when the announcement came. As one of the top 10 volunteers, Tyler will receive a $6,000 prize, an engraved gold medallion, and a $5,000 grant to give to the charity of his choice. Last week, Tyler attended a gala hosted by actress Susan Sarandon, visited congressional representatives on Capitol Hill, and met the top two honorees from each state. The Brentwood teen's path to volunteerism began when he was 10 and lived in Discovery Bay. He saw an episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" featuring Ghanaian children sold into slavery. Shocked by the images of children half his age toiling knee-deep in murky water, Tyler took action.
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Encouraged by his mother, he held a carwash with his friends that raised enough money -- $1,200 and a $500 donation -- to save five children from a life of slavery. Soon, he and his friends also were selling cookies, setting up lemonade stands, and putting on shows to raise money. Today, Kids Helping Kids has sent $30,000 to an intergovernmental organization that rescues child slaves in Ghana and has raised another $20,000 for other children in need. "The funny thing is, I've learned that it really isn't about the money at all," Tyler said. "It seems to me that it is really about connecting the human spirit." The community awards program, in its 16th year, is run by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Tyler was nominated by J. Douglas Adams Middle School, where he is an eighth-grader.
Links to related articles: Newsinfusion.com news article discussing 2011 Prudential Sprit Award. Prudential.com list of national honorees from the 2011 Prudential Spirit Awards. Bradenton.com news article announcing Prudential Sprit Award Winners.
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