Kirkland resident Patricia Bell, 18, has been named as one of Washington’s top two youth volunteers of 2017 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Bell is joined by Tyler Fiorino, 13, of Spokane, Wash.
“Prudential is honored to recognize these young volunteers for their exemplary service,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “We hope that their stories inspire others to consider how they, too, can volunteer their time and talents to improve their communities.”
As a state honoree, Bell will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where she and Fiorino will join other honorees for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2017.
The 22nd annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Bell, a senior at Juanita High School, ran a three-day camp during each of the past three summers to teach young girls how to play lacrosse and to raise money for families who are unable to pay for their children’s medical expenses at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Bell’s efforts have raised more than $12,000 for the hospital.
When she was younger, Bell made a donation to the hospital for a young girl’s heart transplant.
“I was so proud and thrilled that the money I raised could help her live a normal life again,” Bell said.
When she entered high school she wanted to continue to support hospital patients while doing something she felt passionate about. Her answer was to run LAX (lacrosse) Chicks for Children’s Guild.
After meeting with a hospital official, Bell decided her guild would raise money to support uncompensated care for families who need financial assistance.
“With the help, they can focus solely on their sick kid without the additional stress of worrying about medical bills,” she said.
Bell then began organizing the camp for girls from kindergarten through sixth grade, securing equipment donations and field space, finding local business sponsors, recruiting her own lacrosse teammates to assist, and marketing the camp to parents of prospective players. After donating her camp registration fees to the hospital, Bell conceived of another way to combine lacrosse and philanthropy: She challenged all female high school lacrosse players in Washington to find sponsors to pledge a donation every time they score a goal.
