Hands4Hope recognizes and awards youth participants.

Hands4Hope hosted their 7th Annual Youth Recognition Event.  This event, planned, organized and hosted by the Hands4Hope Youth Board, is held every year to honor the dedication of time and achievements of all Hands4Hope youth participants for the past year.

Marin Cross, the 2015-2016 president gave a recap of the year: 1493 participants from 6 High School Clubs, 5 Middle School Clubs and Team Hope, Hands4Hope’s Elementary School Club, as well as the Leadership Development Program. We completed 212 service learning projects that helped 43 local agencies in areas like foster services, hospice, homeless services, services for the hungry, senior citizens, domestic violence. Together Hands4Hope youth served over 12,000 volunteer hours of community service, collected and distributed over 2,600 pounds of food and over 11,000 items including toiletries, blankets and clothes. In addition they raised over $28,500 in monetary donations which were distributed to the local agencies to fill unmet needs in our community.

The 2015-2016 Youth Board also presented The Grace Network, a Sacramento based organization dedicated to stopping human trafficking, with a check for $1,750. Each spring the Youth Board chooses one local organization and raises money for the organization by planning and hosting a benefit dinner. The Youth Board chose The Grace Network because the cause is important issue for youth.

The event recognizes and awards the time and effort the youth served with the 2015-2016 program year.

There are five levels of awards for Hands4Hope Youth Service which both the board of Hands4Hope and Assemblywoman Beth Gaines presented: The Youth service award is up to 15 hours of service, The Bronze Presidential award is given for 15-29 hours, Silver award for 30-49 hours, Gold Award for 50-99, and Platinum for 100+. We had 49 youth honored at this event, 30 of which received Presidential Service Awards from the Office of President Obama. Our top award recipients with the highest Gold Presidential service award, requiring a minimum of 100-250 hours (depending on age group), were Kaitilin Violette, Camryn Wilson, Chloe Simon, Claire Snyer, Kelly Mcmillen, Sarah Connor, and Madeline Simko.

In Marin’s speech, she reflected on her time with the organization and how it truly made a huge impact on her life. This “Light the Way” event was made to recognize and appreciate volunteers, just like Marin, who dedicate so much energy to the program over the years.