by Ofelia Madrid and Kendall Wright

The Arizona Republic

June 4, 2009

SCOTTSDALE - Two Scottsdale students were recently honored in Washington, D.C., for their volunteer efforts.

Mark Phillips, 19, who graduated from Saguaro High School, and Ciara Petronzio, 11, of Desert Arroyo Middle School in Cave Creek, were named Arizona's top youth volunteers for 2009 by the Prudential Spirit of the Community Awards, a nationwide program that honors volunteers.

The two, along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country, received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from former first lady Laura Bush at the 14th annual award ceremony, held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS

Phillips: After moving to Scottsdale in his freshman year, Phillips said he saw a need at his school for a club that promoted the kind of volunteerism he was eager to do. So he founded a community-service organization called the Red Nose Club, a name conceived from the movie "Patch Adams," in which a doctor wears a red clown nose to cheer up sick children. Since its founding four years ago, Phillips' organization has raised $23,000 to donate toward special-needs children.

Petronzio: Her volunteerism started four years ago when she committed her time to Rescue a Golden, an organization that rescues sick and abused golden retrievers, after losing her own beloved dog. Now a sixth-grader, she spends spare time helping out at shelters, assisting at events to introduce adoptable dogs to the public, and fostering dogs in her home. She also has set up lemonade stands and wrapped gifts at a bookstore to raise money for the organization.

WHY THEY VOLUNTEER

Phillips: "Just by giving one box of cereal, you can feed a whole family for quite a while," he said. "It's amazing and inspiring how something like that can make a difference. How every cent donated can really make someone's life better."

Petronzio: "Volunteering is important because I feel like I'm encouraging other kids," she said. "It just makes you have a great feeling when you do something nice. Everyone should try it."

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Prudential Spirit of the Community Award, has been presented by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals for 14 years. "These kids are real leaders and have a passion to reaching out to others," said Scott Peterson, executive director of the Prudential Spirit of Community Initiative. "One of the main goals is to identify kids who can inspire other kids. When other kids see what these kids have done, they might start thinking about what they might do in their communities."

Northeast Valley finalists:

• Taylor Bilby, Scottsdale, Chaparral High School, founded ACTION, a club aimed at spreading awareness about cancer and contributing to a cure for the disease. Each year she leads a team in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and has raised more than $3,000 for the event.

• Rachel Heredia, Paradise Valley, Notre Dame Preparatory, is the co-founder of Open Table Inc., an organization that teaches community groups ways to achieve self-sufficiency and then pairs them with disadvantaged families to help them overcome poverty.

• Jessica Barncastle, Scottsdale, Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center, helped with the Black Stallion Literacy Day, a project to help at-risk elementary students learn to read.

• Matthew Feibus, Cave Creek, Cactus Shadows High School, works as a volunteer counselor at an after-school program for at-risk children at Palomino II Intermediate School. He led fun activities for the children, and also taught important life lessons such as planning for their future and understanding how to be responsible with the money they earn.

• Sean Kelso, Cave Creek, Cactus Shadows High School, raised nearly $3,000 for Foothills Animal Rescue shelter for his Eagle Scout project. He organized a car wash at his church and requested donations from his Boy Scout troop and local businesses to provide care and pet supplies to animals in need.

• Theresa Kyte, Scottsdale, Desert Mountain High School, participated in the Halloween Bash for Maggie's Place, an event for single or disadvantaged mothers and their children.

• Elizabeth Larkin, Scottsdale, Xavier College Preparatory, aided refugee families in building a new life in Phoenix through the Welcome to America Project. She organized garage sales and other fundraisers to buy household essentials such as dishware and furniture, and delivered the items to the families.

• Sierra Smith, Scottsdale, Horizon High School, is involved with the Youth and Education Commission for Phoenix. She helped organize the Youth Town Hall, received the Outstanding Young Man/Woman of the Year Award, and worked as a student reporter for the local program Know99.

• Coby Van Loan, Phoenix, Arcadia High School, designed a fundraiser for Hayden's Hope, a charity dedicated to finding a cure for firbrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. She organized a team to sell custom-made bracelets advocating the cause, and recorded a promotional video to increase sales.