Two Virginia Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Two Virginia students, Connor Bell, 17, of Lynchburg and John Yates, 14, of Richmond, were honored in the nation’s capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – received $1,000 awards as well as congratulations from former First Lady Laura Bush at the 14^th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

Connor and John were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in Virginia last February. In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week’s recognition events, although Connor was unable to attend.

"The young people receiving these awards genuinely care about making a difference in the lives of others and have accomplished so much – in their own communities and around the world,” said Mrs. Bush, who delivered the keynote address at last night’s ceremony. "I thank and congratulate them for their outstanding volunteer work. Students with this kind of commitment and leadership ability are essential to the future of our nation.”

Connor, a senior at Virginia Episcopal School, organized a community event featuring a 20K bike ride, a 5K run and a children’s tricycle parade to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and to honor the memory of his father, who was killed in a biking accident in 2007 at the age of 58. After the tragic accident, Connor wanted to do something to memorialize his dad and benefit a good cause at the same time. Since his father had been a bicycling enthusiast and a big fan of Lance Armstrong, and his grandmother had died of cancer the previous year, Connor decided to work on a bicycling event that would help fight cancer through the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

After contacting the foundation, Connor began planning the details of the John H. Bell LiveStrong Jamboree. He mapped out a bike route, set a date, obtained a permit from his city, arranged for police escorts, and secured insurance coverage. Then he sent information about the event to everyone on his school’s mailing and email distribution lists, and recruited a group of volunteers to post fliers all over town. Five local businesses agreed to cover the costs of the event, so that all proceeds and donations could go to the foundation. When the big day finally arrived, more than 100 people showed up at his school to take part, and Connor raised more than $8,000 from registration fees, donations, and T-shirt sales. "What began as a desperate attempt to keep my dad’s memory alive became a personal war against cancer,” he said. "I look forward to the next jamboree when I get to meet the people who couldn’t make it last year and welcome them into the fellowship that my dad inspired.”

John, an eighth-grader at Lucille M. Brown Middle School, initiated and managed the complete renovation of his school’s running track so that the school’s PE classes and track team – and nearby residents – would have a modern, safe facility for outdoor exercise. As a member of the school track team, John was well aware of the old track’s problems: bad rock and dirt, weeds, inadequate drainage, ruts, and valleys. It was too wet after rain storms and too hard after dry spells, he said. "My vision was to get the track in great shape – eliminating the drainage issues, improving the surface, adding markings, and making it a center for exercise for the school and neighborhood.”

John conducted extensive research on cinder tracks, consulted with experts, and obtained approval from his principal to proceed. After dozens of calls and emails, he found a quarry to donate 140 tons of rock dust, a road contractor to provide construction equipment and workers, and local businesses to furnish other materials. Then John lined up more than 30 volunteers to rake the old track, remove weeds and large stones, and clean out drains to prepare for a new surface. When the major construction work was done, they measured and marked the track, erected a sign explaining distances, and added a bench for visitors. "The renovated track is now a great spot for walking, running, and working out,” said John, "a real asset to the school and community.”

"Connor and John are inspiring examples of young Americans who care deeply about the needs of others and who have taken the initiative to help meet those needs,” said John R. Strangfeld, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. "By honoring them, we hope not only to give them the recognition they so richly deserve, but also to inspire others to follow their example.”

Nearly 20,000 young people submitted applications for the 2009 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the Points of Light Institute’s HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February, and were flown to Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 14 years ago by Prudential Financial, Inc. to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. Since then, the program has honored nearly 90,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level.

"The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is a fabulous partnership between NASSP and Prudential, allowing us to recognize the outstanding young people in our schools and communities,” said NASSP President Larry Bradley. "This year’s honorees exemplify the true spirit of helping others and by doing so they give America and the world a promising future, a future filled with compassion and hope.”

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are supported by the American Association of School Administrators, the National Middle School Association, the National School Boards Association, the Council of the Great City Schools, Girl Scouts of the USA, National 4-H Council, the American Red Cross, YMCA of the USA, the Points of Light Institute, and other national education and service organizations.

More information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees can be found at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.principals.org/prudential.

In existence since 1916, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. NASSP’s mission is to promote excellence in school leadership. The National Honor Society®, National Junior Honor Society®, National Elementary Honor Society™, and National Association of Student Councils® are all NASSP programs. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, Va., visit www.principals.org or call 703-860-0200.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) is a financial services leader with operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Leveraging its heritage of life insurance and asset management expertise, Prudential is focused on helping approximately 50 million individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth. The company’s well-known Rock symbol is an icon of strength, stability, expertise and innovation that has stood the test of time. Prudential's businesses offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services. For more information, visit www.news.prudential.com.

[Editors: full-color pictures of the Spirit of Community Awards program logo and medallions are available at http://spirit.prudential.com.]

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