Fourth Annual Power of Children Awards: Making a Difference
Awards Presented Nov. 7 at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis recognizes that children and young people throughout the state make significant contributions and provide countless hours of volunteer service to make their communities better. In 2004, The Power of Children Awards were created by The Children's Museum to honor and empower the selfless efforts of middle and high school students throughout Indiana. These awards help extraordinary children and families realize that many others in our own communities also perform extraordinary acts and that their good deeds should not go unnoticed. For 2008, four outstanding youths were chosen as Power of Children Award recipients: Kyle Gough, Westview Jr.-Sr. High School, Topeka, Ind.; siblings Amanda and Grant Mansard, Terre Haute North High School, Terre Haute, Ind.; and Allison Mansfield, Summit Middle School, Fort Wayne, Ind.

The Power of Children Awards were inspired by the museum's dynamic exhibit, The Power of Children: Making a Difference, now celebrating its first year of public visitation. This moving exhibit features the lives of three nationally and internationally known extraordinary young people who touched the world in unique ways — Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges and Ryan White.

"Now in its fourth year of recognizing extraordinary youth service, The Power of Children Awards are an important way to recognize the powerful work that young people accomplish," said Dr. Jeffrey Patchen, president and CEO of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. "The philanthropic efforts of these young people are making positive differences in the lives of others now that will impact and inspire not only their own generation, but also future generations."

This year, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis will honor four youths as role models who exemplify an extraordinary commitment to public service and social responsibility. During the Nov. 7 awards presentation, the 2008 Power of Children Award winners will each receive a cash recognition award of $2,000 from Kroger to further extend the depth and reach of their extraordinary projects, a Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholarship to be used for post-secondary education at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), the opportunity to attend the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana summer youth conference and a museum membership. Emceed by Scott Sander, anchor of WISH-TV's Daybreak, the 2008 awards ceremony will feature remarks from Gerald Raines, senior director, Nickelodeon Theme Parks and Attractions. Mr. Raines is responsible for the expansion and management of Nickelodeon's global theme parks and attractions business.

The Deborah Joy Simon Charitable Trust generously provided a major gift to support the establishment and continuation of The Power of Children Awards. Additional support has been provided by Crowe, Duke Energy, Kroger, IUPUI, Starbucks and WISH-TV 8.

To be considered for The Power of Children Awards, Indiana youth in grades 6–11 were nominated by adults, 21 years or older, who reside in Indiana. The nominees had to be individuals who actively created and implemented their projects during the 2007–2008 school year.

2008 Power of Children Award winners:
In response to a need for computers in his community, 17-year-old Kyle Gough founded PC's for Youth, Inc. This Topeka, Ind., Westview Jr.-Sr. High School senior recognized the importance of owning a computer with word processing capabilities for educational and social supplementation. Through his desire to bring these benefits to others in his community, Kyle created the organization PC's for Youth, Inc., to provide recycled computers to youth in need and adults seeking to continue their education. Since beginning this project, nearly 100 individuals have directly or indirectly benefited from PC's For Youth, Inc., and Kyle hopes to establish 501(c)(3) status to improve sustainability for this organization.

Siblings Amanda and Grant Mansard founded the non-profit organization Youth Embracing Service (Y.E.S.) as a way to start service projects and to get other students involved. After their father was injured at work, Amanda and Grant formed Y.E.S. as their self-described way "to focus on helping others so they wouldn't feel sorry for themselves and focus too much on their problems." The Y.E.S. organization provides an opportunity for youth to volunteer in their community. Since August 2007, Y.E.S. has completed several projects, including "Calling All Angels" which sent 3,400 holiday cards to Indiana soldiers serving overseas; "Y.E.S. We Go a Caroling" in which 55 volunteers went Christmas caroling to terminally-ill individuals and their families; and in February 2008 completed "You've Been Hugged" to deliver Valentine "hugs" in the form of gift bags and balloons to 127 terminally-ill individuals. These Terre Haute North High School students also created the Web site YouthEmbracingService.org to provide information about Y.E.S. service projects and volunteer opportunities for youth in local community organizations, as well as general information about volunteering and how to do service projects. The Mansards plan to continue the work they have begun and hope to expand their organization to students throughout the state.

Allison Mansfield, an 8th grade student at Summit Middle School in Fort Wayne, created Operation Socks for Our Troops as a way to provide wool socks for soldiers. During a trip to the post office to ship toiletries to soldiers, a clerk mentioned to Allison the need troops serving in the mountains of Afghanistan have for wool socks. In response to this need, Allison started the Operation Socks for Our Troops campaign to collect socks and money to help pay for overseas shipping expenses. Since Veteran's Day 2007, more than 5,000 pairs of socks and $5,000 cash and in-kind donations have been collected by donors and Operation Socks for Our Troops has met the needs for approximately 19.2 percent of soldiers serving in Afghanistan and areas of Iraq. The 13-year-old Allison plans to continue her sock-donation campaign and to expand her efforts to meet the needs of troops serving overseas.

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