Community Serice Award Announced

The Rotary Cub of Briarcliff  Manor announced its annual Community Service Award to graduating Seniors of the Briarcliff High School.  The top award, the Leonard Young scholarship of $2,000 for college studies, was given to Ms. Caroline Brickell on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at the Briarcliff Manor High School Awards ceremony by Eric Lebenson, a director and past president of the Rotary Club.  

The Award, instituted in memory of the late Leonard Young who was past president of the Rotary Club of Briarcliff Manor, is given annually to the student who exemplifies the Rotary International motto of "Service Above Self."  It seeks to recognize and acknowledge the high school student who has participated in most community service activities through the student's high school years.  All high school seniors are invited to apply, and the Board of Directors of  the Rotary Club selects the final winner(s).
Six students applied for the scholarship this year.  "We are gratified at the enthusiasm of the students to serve those less fortunate than themselves," said Dean Dykeman, President of the Rotary Club.  While each of the six applicants reflected commendable community spirit, the Board selected Ms. Brickell, who was involved in many community service projects.  Through Project Abroad, Ms. Brickell worked in an orphanage in Ghana, reading to and teaching children.  In addition, she helped build clay houses for the Ghanain villagers.   In all, Ms. Brickell spent two hundred and twenty hours working in West Africa.  In addition, Ms. Brickell was also very active in J Teen, a community service organization founded in response to Hurricane Katrina, and did humanitarian work in New orleans and Cuba.  Other non-profit charities like Kid's Closet, NYC Midnight Run, Habitat for Humanity, AFTA and Congregational Sons of Israel have all benefitted  from Caroline's unceasing selflessness.  Ms. Brickell's record of service is an inspiration for everyone.


The Club also announced an award of $500 to Ms. Elizabeth Johnson for her  work at the Maria Ferari Children's Hospital. She has been a volunteer there for seven years,starting when she was only ten. She helped to build and enhance the Treasure Trove Program aimed at creating a safe, peaceful, loving environment in the hospital for patients and their families, as well as for their doctors and nurses.  Ms. Johnson also knitted over a hundred hats for neo-natal babies, and helped make the Maria Ferari Children's Hospital a loving, more "user friendly" place. She has also volunteered  for the Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless and  the  BHS Recycling Center.    

The Rotary Club of Briarcliff Manor is part of the well-established and respected Rotary International based in Evanston, Illinois.  Comprised of local residents and businesspersons, its activities include promoting opportunities for students in Briarcliff Manor.  For more information, contact Rotarian President Dean Dykeman at <ddykeman@savatree.com>, or me.

Yours in Rotary Service,
Krishnan Chittur
President