DELAWARES 2014 YOUTH VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS WINNERS NAMED

Lt. Gov. Denn to Honor Young People at April 23 Dinner in Dover

Profiles of winners:

• New Castle County Winners - Individual and Group
• Kent County Winners - Individual and Group
• Sussex County Winners - Individual and Group

DOVER (March 26, 2014) - Lt. Gov. Matt Denn will present the 2014 Governor's Youth Volunteer Service Awards to 15 individuals and five groups of young people April 23 at the Dover Downs Hotel ballrooms.

More than 300 people are expected to join the lieutenant governor in honoring the young volunteers for their outstanding service. The event will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the ceremony starting at 7. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at www.volunteerdelaware.eventbrite.com

"It is my privilege to honor young people for volunteering their talents to help strengthen our communities," Lt. Gov. Denn said. "It will be my pleasure to thank our youth for turning their passion for public service into much-needed action."

The 2014 award recipients participated in such diverse activities encouraging literacy, educating peers, leading nature programs, supporting a fire company and organizing fundraisers. They are representative of Delaware's young people who are making a positive contribution to society, and inspiring others to do the same.

The recipients are:

• New Castle County (individuals): Basilio Nicolo Bautista III (Newark), Peyton Beard (Wilmington), Haley Chambers (Hockessin), Chris Coulston (Wilmington), Kate Goorland (Wilmington), Julianna Lewis (Wilmington), Aamir Majeed (Hockessin) and Braeden Mannering (Bear).
• New Castle County (groups): Delaware Autism Program (Newark) and SwapShop-The Visser Sisters (Wilmington).
• Kent County (individuals): Brett Clarke (Magnolia), Anne Marie Del Vecchio (Dover) and Marius Sander (Dover).
• Kent County (groups): Delaware Military 4-H Youth (Dover) and Hartly Fire Company Cadets (Hartly).
• Sussex County (individuals): Sarah L. Bell (Seaford), Regina (Gigi) Gijanto (Delmar), and Makenna Jade Richardson and Nash Richardson (both of Bridgeville).
• Sussex County (groups): Laurel Public Library Teen Volunteers (Laurel).

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf, whose department oversees the State Office of Volunteerism, said the honorees also are building a commitment to volunteerism and service to others that she hopes will extend throughout their lives.

"We congratulate the young people for their passion in serving their fellow Delawareans," Secretary Landgraf said. "As these young volunteers grow older, their dedication to supporting individuals who are vulnerable will be essential in helping to solve the problems we face as a state and as a nation."

The Governor's Youth Volunteer Service Awards are sponsored by the Office of the Governor, the state Department of Health and Social Services, the Division of State Service Centers, the State Office of Volunteerism, Serve Delaware and the Governor's Commission on Community and Volunteer Service.

Eligible nominees include individuals or youth groups in which participants age 18 or younger are enrolled as a student during 2013. Individuals and groups must be engaged in volunteer activities addressing community needs in Delaware, and must have volunteered at least 50 hours as an individual or 100 hours as a group.

For more information about the Governor's Youth Volunteer Service Awards, go to www.volunteerdelaware.org. To interview any of the winners or for more about the awards, contact Carrie Hart, Volunteer Service Administrator, at (302) 857-5006.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.