NAM girls selected as Prudential Spirit of Community honorees from coast to coast.
Each year, all public and private middle level and high schools in the country, as well as all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of HandsOn Network, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award. This year, 5,000 Local Honorees were then reviewed by an independent judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.
“People as caring and committed as these young students are critical to the future of our neighborhoods, our cities and our nation,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “By recognizing these honorees, we hope to encourage other young people – our future leaders – and all Americans to think more about the value and importance of volunteering in their communities.”
This year, 2 National American Miss girls were selected as their states honorees for their outstanding community involvement.
Jordan Somer, was the 2007 Nebraska National American Miss Jr. Teen and took a cue from her NAM experience. Jordan is the founder of th annual “Miss Amazing Pageant” for disabled girls and women, and has donated more than $15,000 from ticket and auction sales to charities over the past three years. “There are no pageants for girls and women with disabilities,” explains Jordan. “They aspire to be queens just like any other girl.”
Jordan secured a venue, contacted organizations that work with the disabled to find contestants, and obtained donated trophies and medals for prizes. She created a program, wrote a script for the show, coordinated a silent auction, planned a reception and luncheon, and supervised details such as flowers, tickets, and crowns. Jordan recruited classmates and other teens in her community to assist at the event. The revenue raised has gone to Ronald McDonald House, The Salvation Army, and local charities. In addition, more than 500 pounds of canned food – collected as pageant entry fees – have been donated to feed the hungry. “I continue to be touched by the participants each year,” said Jordan. “I am so proud of what they accomplish.”
Also, being honored is Nyasha Sprow, National American Miss Virginia Preteen who is a passionate advocate for organ and tissue donation. Several years before Nyasha was born, her two sisters were tragically killed and her mother made the decision to donate their organs and tissues, giving 12 strangers the gift of life and health. And, in an unfortunate twist of fate, Nyasha’s older brother suffers from renal failure and has been on dialysis for years.
So it was an easy decision for Nyasha to make organ donation her personal mission. Nyasha has become a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation, stressing both the importance of protecting one’s organs and the need for more organ donors. She makes presentations at elementary schools, distributes literature at health fairs and community events, and seeks interviews with news media. She also participates in fund-raising events sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation and the Washington Regional Transplant Center. Finally, Nyasha is spreading the word about organ donation as a contestant in the National American Miss pageant. “I feel that education is the key to dispelling the myths and misconceptions that prevent people from donating,” she said. “If I can answer questions that may be keeping people from being donors, then maybe I can help increase the rate of donation and thereby save a life.”