Ethan Garza, Sinton.
Ethan has had a big impact on his small hometown of Sinton, Texas. As a member of the Future Problem Solving Program, Ethan single-handedly started a project to rejuvenate the elderly community in Sinton. Ethan independently planned and carried out a membership drive for the VFW, cleaned up its dilapidated building, and helped members place flags at cemeteries on national holidays. He also interviewed veterans and wrote newspaper articles highlighting a different VFW member each week.
As a result of Ethan's efforts, Sinton's VFW membership has increased by 10% and its members have been inspired to re-engage with their community. For his dedication to the elderly community in Sinton, Ethan received the "Beyonder Award" at the Texas Future Problem Solving State Bowl.
Tyler Folse, Houston.
Concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Tyler Folse started his service project with a small but inspired idea. He held a garage sale that would raise money for the International Relief Committee, which works to deliver medical care, safe drinking water, and comfort to families fleeing violence in Sudan.
Tyler shared information about the crisis with his community, and in his first garage sale raised $1900 for rescue and relief in Darfur. Over the next two years, Tyler's garage sale event grew from a modest sale of things found around Tyler's own home to a large-scale affair that involved eBay sales and 17 other volunteers. By the time he executed his third garage sale, he'd raised over $18,000 to benefit refugees in Darfur.
Sydney Drain, Spring.
Deeply affected by the statistics she learned in her junior year about Sudan, Sydney Drain decided to initiate a "Water Is Basic" campaign in her community in Spring, Texas. "Water is Basic" is an organization that trains local Sudanese to drill and maintain water wells in their community.
After speaking about the cause to her church congregation and recruiting teams of volunteers, Sydney took the lead on designing and selling t-shirts for the project. She hoped her campaign would raise enough money to build 3 wells, each of which would provide clean water to 2,000 Sudanese villagers. She was shocked to learn, at the end of her efforts, that she'd raised enough money to build 30 wells, which would provide safe drinking water for over 60,000 people in Sudan.
Service Award Recipients 2009
YouthLaunch also honored six outstanding participants from our No Kidding, Urban Roots and Youth Partnership for Change programs.