SZALKOWSKI, Clare

SZALKOWSKI, Clare. In April 2016 Clare Szalkowski, a fifth grade student at HOOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, was named one of America's top 10 youth youth volunteers for 2016. She was recognized during the 21st annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in Washington, D. C. At ten years of age, Clare and a fifth grader from South Carolina were the youngest of the ten honored. (1)

Known for various "Clare Cares" efforts, Clare brought "buddy benches" to dozens of schools in the area. Hoover's bench was the first of 25 already paid for that will be installed in schools in Dubuque and Western Dubuque and in Galena and East Dubuque, Illinois. Clare partnered with Resources Unite, which connected her with many local community and business donors. Students can go to the benches if they need someone with whom to talk or play. (2) She was selected from a field of more than 29,000 youth volunteers from across the United States. (3)

Clare received a personal award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for her school, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of her choice. (4)

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Source:

1. "Dubuque 10-Year-Old Named One of America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers," Telegraph Herald, May 3, 2016, p. 3A

2. Becker, Stacey. "1st of 25 'Buddy Benches' Installed in Tri-States," Telegraph Herald, April 15, 2014. Online: http://www.thonline.com/news/tri-state/article_602764b2-f879-574f-9cd6-3d2c96500428.html

3. "Dubuque 10-Year-Old..."

4. Ibid.