News

February 12, 2012

Kyle Torres Recognized for Volunteer Service

New Haven, CT – Kyle Torres, 13, of Branford has been honored for his exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was presented by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama.  Torres participated in the Spirit of Community program this year as a representative of Saint Martin de Porres Academy in New Haven, where he is an 8th grade student.

Torres earned his award through his numerous volunteer activities.  As President of the Rotary International Interact Club at his school, Torres has organized many philanthropic projects such as Pennies for Peace, personal items collection for foster children, canned food drive, toy drive for Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, school supplies for children in Nicaragua, and raising money for Haiti.  As a member of the Peace and Justice Club, Torres has volunteered at the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, Amistad Catholic Worker, Columbus House, New Haven Home Recovery’s CareWays program, and the Mary Wade Home.  He has organized an Earth Day clean-up of Trowbridge Square in New Haven as well as tree planting around the Hill neighborhood of New Haven.

“Kyle Torres exemplifies what it means to be St. Martin de Porres Academy student. It is fitting that he has been recognized to receive the President's Volunteer Service Award,” principal Kelly O’Leary.  “Kyle endeavors everyday to share his gifts and talents to make his family, our school, and the community a place of justice and peace. It is socially aware students, like Kyle, who will be the leaders of tomorrow, committed to breaking the cycle of poverty.”

Sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program recognizes young people across America for outstanding community service activities.  More than 345,000 young people across America have been considered for these awards since the program began in 1995.

“The recipients of these awards vividly demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial.  “In recognizing these students and placing a spotlight on their volunteer service activities, we hope to motivate others to consider how they can also contribute to their community.”

“Demonstrating civic responsibility through community volunteerism is an important part of live,” said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartlett. “These Honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate.”

Program applications were distributed last September through all public and private middle level and high schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, and affiliates of HandsOn Network.  After Local Honorees were named, state-level judges selected State Honorees, Distinguished Finalists and Certificate of Excellence recipients.  Volunteer activities were judged on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact, and personal growth.

NASSP, based in Reston, VA, is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world.  Prudential Financial, based in Newark, NJ, provides more than 50 million individual and institutional customers worldwide with life insurance, annuities, retirement-related service, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services.