KidsMatter, together with Mayor Chirico and the Naperville City Council, recently honored 22 young people for their significant community service efforts during the 2017 Naperville Youth Service Awards celebration.
Since 1993, the City of Naperville has presented the Naperville Youth Service Award to recognize outstanding volunteer efforts by local Naperville area students and to highlight community service.
Nominations for this year’s awards came from 21 local organizations and agencies that specifically provide young people with opportunities to volunteer their time and energy. These opportunities give teens a sense of purpose, provide them with valuable hands-on experiences, and ignite the volunteer spirit that has helped make Naperville the thriving community it is today. Proud family and friends of the students packed the audience in support of the outstanding youth.
During the award ceremony, each student received a Naperville Youth Service Award Pin, a framed certificate and a custom frame into which they will be able to place a photo of themselves receiving their award from Mayor Chirico. The Young Naperville Singers performed musical selections.
Afterward, a reception and dinner were held, thanks to community donations, to honor the 22 students who have given their time, energy and heart to make a positive difference in the lives of other people and to make Naperville a better place in which to live.
Youth Award Recipient(s) / Nominating Organization
Imani Melendez and Peter Mullin/ 360 Youth Services
Isha Srinivasan/ The Alive Center
Peyton Arens/ DuPage Children’s Musuem
Jack Andringa/ DuPagePads
Erin Schiemann/ Edward Hospital & Health Services
Abby Peterson/ Exchange Club of Naperville
Jory Haddad/Fair Lady Productions, Inc.
Jack Grimmer/ Forest Preserve District of Will County
Amanda Brennan/ Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
Morgan Ceresa/Buddy Break at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Clare Bumpus/ KidsMatter
Lillian Fu/ Loaves and Fishes Community Services
Marissa Burk/ Naper Settlement
Adira Safar/ Naperville Park District
Daniel Casey/ Naperville Public Library
Celine Afshari/Ready Set Ride
Samia Abdul-Qadir/Ronald McDonald Family Room in Edward Hospital
Steven Shi/The Merry Tutor
Kamden Benbow-Niemier/Morton Arboretum
Matt Hatch/ Young Hearts for Life
Brynne Winiarski/Young Life – Naperville and Aurora
For everything about KidsMatter programs and initiatives, visit www.kidsmatter2us.org.
