Hilary wearing her Prudential Spirit of the Community gold medallion.
	Be a Prudential "Spirit of Community" Award Winner More than 70,000 young people (grades 5-12) have received the Prudential "Spirit of Community Award" over the last 11 years. Award prizes include: Honored in Washington, D.C., at an Award Ceremony (all-expense paid trip) $5,000 for each honoree a donation of $5,000 made to the charitable organization of your choice a gold medallion a crystal trophy for your school Application Deadline: October 31, 2006 (submitted to your Girl Scout council or your school principal) For more information or an application, visit the Prudential "Spirit of Community" Web site or call: (888) 450-9961

She's Got the Spirit
Girl Scout Named One of America’s
Top 10 Youth Volunteers

By Stefanie Glick, staff writer

"This award shows America at its best!"
—Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State

Imagine being called "the best of America" or named one of "America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers of the Year!" Well, that’s exactly what a former Secretary of State and Prudential Financial Company have said about Hillary—an 11-year-old Cadette Girl Scout from Bedford, New Hampshire.

At an award ceremony in Washington, D.C., Hillary was recently awarded the 2006 'Spirit of Community' award. In addition to receiving an all-expense trip to the country’s capital, Hillary was awarded $5,000, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for her nominating school or organization, and a $5,000 grant from the Prudential Foundation to give to the charity of her choice.

"Seeing others with nothing makes you want to give everything you can to them."
—Hillary
                                                            
When Hillary says something, she means it!  When Hillary realized many children couldn't afford art and school supplies, she started making kits of school supplies for kids who need them in her community. When she heard about the victims of the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, she recruited other volunteers, set up donation boxes and centers, and assembled and shipped 900 "humanitarian kits" to help make a difference. And she even managed to include 100 stuffed animals for the younger children.

Hillary has even started her own nonprofit organization called Color My World: Kids Who Care, and has collected more than $11,000 worth of personal-care products and other items to send to needy families around the world. As former First Lady Barbara Bush has said about Hillary and other youth from around the country who have made such an impressive effort and earned the Prudential award, these young people "serve as role models for other children."

"Volunteering has taught me to look outside myself and discover where I can make a difference."
—Hillary

In addition to all the recognition she has received, Hillary also values volunteering as a unique opportunity for personal growth. "Serving others helps you as much as it helps them—just in different ways. I have learned how to be more organized, lead others and influence others to be better people."

Perhaps Hillary's inspirational story is best summed up in her own words, when she says: "My motto is 'Search inward, look upward, and reach outward.' And I would tell other people—just get out and do something!"