Two Nevada youths honored for volunteer work

Tuesday, May 4, 1999 | 3:09 a.m.

The Clayton Middle School student launched what became a five-month campaign called "Pennies for Jenny".

The effort raised $25,000 so Jenny's mother could take time off work to be with her daughter as she battled the illness that eventually took her life.

This week, Young and another Nevadan, 17-year-old Jeffrey Walker of Henderson, were honored in Washington, D.C., as recipients of the 1999 Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

Walker, a junior at Green Valley High School, was recognized for creating a program encouraging other students to become involved in their communities.

As a result of his "2000 Tomorrows" program, more than 6,000 students have volunteered at drug abuse and teen pregnancy prevention programs, battered women's shelters, clothing drives and community cleanups.

"These two young Nevadans embody the meaning of community service," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. "Through their individual actions they each have made a difference in the lives of others and in their own communities."

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., whose district includes Young's hometown of Reno, praised Young as a "benchmark for her peers."

"The goodness seen in her selfless actions offers us a brief respite from this media-crazed age of violence and hardship," Gibbons said.

Young and Walker were among 100 youth volunteers from around the country who were honored during a ceremony Monday night at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

Each recipient received $1,000 and the trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the event.