Jefferson Awards honor those who give back
Sussex Central High School student Samantha Franklin experienced more adversity by the time she was a teenager than most do in a lifetime.
But that has not stopped her from giving back to her community.
"I learned early in life that [it] is all about choices," she told a crowd Monday at the Hotel du Pont, where she was honored with a Jefferson Award for Public Service. "I made a promise to myself to help others."
At the age of four, Franklin lost her home when her father was imprisoned. Over the next 10 years, she moved through various custody arrangements and living conditions, until she landed with a Sussex County foster family when she was in eighth grade. The new home sparked her commitment to helping others.
Some of her efforts have included serving food at area churches, participating in local parades, volunteering at the Harry K Christmas Ball and supporting school functions. She also worked to support Home of the Brave in Milford, the only female veterans' transitional facility in Delaware.
Franklin is involved with the National Honor Society, Future Farmers of America and the Boys and Girls Club.
"I learned to rise above it," she said of her difficult childhood.
Franklin was one of five individuals, a school and a business to win a Jefferson Award on Monday. The award is meant to be like a Nobel Prize for community service. It was created in 1972 by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Sen. Robert Taft Jr. and Delaware native Sam Beard.
Some of Delaware's most influential political, social and business leaders were in attendance, including Gov. Jack Markell, Attorney General Matt Denn, and the state's two U.S. senators, Chris Coons and Tom Carper.
Braeden Mannering, 11, of Bear, won the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Youth Service. Mannering started 3B Brae's Brown Bags, a foundation providing bags full of healthy snacks to the homeless. Since July 2013, Mannering has distributed 2,364 bags to those in need.
The charity has also sponsored events to raise funds for organizations fighting to end hunger. Events included races and collaborations with University of Delaware's coed service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.
"I can't believe how much the foundation has grown," he said after receiving his award. "It is because of supporters like you."
Monica Prestowitz of Christiana Care received the award for Outstanding Service by an Employee in the Workplace. She volunteers 72 hours a month with Urban Promise, a Wilmington organization preparing children and young adults with skills necessary for academic achievement and life management. As a nurse, Prestowitz teaches health, fitness and first aid to Urban Promise staff and interns.
"They become part of our family," she said of the kids she has helped through Urban Promise.
John Hollis won the Outstanding Service by an Entrepreneur Award for mentoring Sussex County minority youth. Hollis, continues the Minority Engineering Regional Incentive Training, a group formed in 1974 by DuPont employees to foster academic success among minorities. The program gives its members challenging engineering projects and tasks to build confidence and determination.
Ann Guzzetta received the Outstanding National or Global Service by Young Americans Award. She won for her nonprofit, Books for Children Charity. The charity collects and redistributes new and gently used, donated books to children who do not have access to literature in hopes of creating a passion for reading.
Students of St. Elizabeth High School were honored with the Outstanding Service by Delaware Students in Action. The students were chosen for their volunteer projects, including raising over $5,000 with their annual Jingle Bell Run and collecting over 700 pairs of shoes.
Delmarva Power received an award for Outstanding Service by a Major Company. The utility company's employees donated $4.3 million to over 700 nonprofits, including Christiana Health Care System, Delaware Community Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware. In addition, Delmarva Power donated 1,200 smoke alarms to fire officials to raise fire safety awareness.
Contact Jeff Mordock at (302) 324-2786, on Twitter @JeffMordockTNJ orjmordock@delawareonline.com.
