Charlotte Howard and Ian Childs receive Pelham Together’s HOP Award

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Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Pelham Together.

Pelham Memorial High School junior Charlotte Howard and Pelham Memorial High School senior Ian Childs are the recipients of the December 2018 Heart of Pelham (HOP) Award. Pelham Middle School 8 th-grader, Isabella Fauber, and 7-th-grader Jack Boyce are recipients of HOP Jr. Awards for the same period. Thanks to Mr. Art Scinta of Houlihan Lawrence and TheJunior League of Pelham for their generosity in sponsoring these awards.

Charlotte Howard was celebrated for her determination, compassion and good citizenship. After research and sheer will, Charlotte made a trip to Ghana—halfway around the world—to help those in need. She was part of a group who helped build compostable toilets for this community,improving the environment and their quality of life. Being so moved by that experience, Charlotte established a website to raise funds to return and set up more compost toilets in these and other communities. Charlotte’s commitment to service is also evident in her activism to organize the Polar Bear Plunge team for PMHS, raising over $1,400 for the Special Olympics, and taking on the role as co-President of the club to motivate her peers to join the cause! Her efforts are evident here in Pelham as well; for several years, Charlotte has accompanied a young child through town on Halloween, sacrificing her own time with friends, to ensure she was able to enjoy trick-or-treating and who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. Her nominator describes her positive spirit as “contagious,” and her nature as “self-motivated, selfless, and sincerely empathetic.”

Ian Childs received a HOP award for his kindness, compassion, and community engagement, having made quite an impact in his Huguenot community and throughout Pelham. As a Deacon and a member of the Handbell Choir at Huguenot, Ian is a leader and role model for younger members of the community, described by his nominator as one whose, “leadership has permeated throughout the entire spiritual community at Huguenot.” Ian has integrated community service into his life as a frequent participant in various mission trips, where he has given of himself to make the world a better place. Examples of Ian’s character point to a recurring theme—how much of an influence and profound effect he has had on his peers. As a member of the faith community and as a member of the PMHS football team, Ian is described as “inclusive, welcoming” no matter whether he’s at church or in the locker room.

Our HOP Jr Award winners have started demonstrating these character traits at an even younger age! Both Isabella Fauber and Jack Boyce were chosen by PMS teachers, guidance, and administration and are honored beautifully in these words written about them by their PMScommunity:

Best-selling author John C. Maxwell writes, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Our Heart of Pelham Jr. Award recipient Jack Boyce perfectly fits thatdefinition of leadership. As described by his teachers and his coach, Jack easily checks off allthe boxes you would want if creating a list of the attributes of a positive role model. He is honest, kind, respectful, hardworking, tenacious and helpful to others. He can be called upon at any time for help, as was the case when he volunteered his time to visit one of our elementary schools to help orient our incoming sixth grade class. But Jack also knows intuitively when others need help and acts on it, as he did when he reached out on his own to help a new student transition to the middle school. Jack is the student who greets everyone in the hallway with a smile, works well with everyone and helps others within the classroom, and thanks his teachers each day when class has ended. On a daily basis, and without fail, Jack “knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way,” and is a deserving recipient of the HOP Jr. Award for his leadership, kindness, and being a good role model.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Desmond Tutu is quoted as saying, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Our Heart of Pelham Jr. Award recipient, Isabella Fauber clearly intends on overwhelming the world by doing more than just a little bit of good. As a middle school student, Isabella has already accumulated seven times the number of service learning hours that are required for middle school. She has helped with the Fall Festival, gift wrapped with Pelham Civics, was heavily involved in the Pennies for Patients drive at the middle school, helped with Thanksgiving in a Box packaging meals and kind notes for families in need, and served on a student panel for parents of incoming sixth grade students. Isabella has given of herself to many causes, all while maintaining the highest level of academic achievement. She is one of the most hard-working, diligent and well-rounded students in the middle school. She is self-disciplined, honest, and shows genuine respect and care for all of her peers and adults alike. Isabella’s tireless efforts in achieving for herself, and for improving the world around her, make her a well-deserved recipient of the Heart of Pelham/HOP Jr. Award.

Because of the generosity of Art Scinta of Houlihan Lawrence and The Junior League of Pelham, all winners received gift cards and were celebrated at a small ceremony hosted by J Café on December 18, 2018.

Do you know a Pelham teen doing great things in the community and who demonstrates compassion, leadership, integrity or determination? Nominate him or her for the Heart of Pelham(HOP) Award! The next round of nominations is due by April 30, 2018.

Pelham Together works to ensure a healthy and vibrant community, for and with the youth of Pelham. To learn more about Pelham Together’s youth programs, resources, events and ways to be involved, please visit pelhamtogether.org