Youth Leadership Program Selected as "Community Champion"

Youth Leadership members are pictured at this year's Postal Carriers Food drive - one of their annual volunteer activites.

The Valley Substance Abuse Action Council has selected Valley United Way's Youth Leadership Program as one of four recipients of its "Community Champions" Awards. The Awards are for Valley citizens and groups who have “taken action and effected change to help prevent substance abuse in the Valley community.” The will be presented at the annual Valley Community Champions Breakfast and Award Recognition Event on January 7th, at 7:45 a.m., at John J. Sullivan’s Restaurant in Ansonia.

The others being honored this year are Seymour Police Officer Joe DeFelice; the Comcast production team of: Elizabeth Kennard, Ken Fay, Ron Karkut, Mike Fay, Jerry Kosturko; community resident Wendy Baldino; and Pitney Bowes Vice President - Strategic Business Transformation, William F. Bubbico.

Now in its 19th year, the primary objective of the Program is to develop teens into future community leaders. They learn about community needs in the Valley and the importance of nonprofit agencies and the role volunteerism plays in addressing those needs. They then put their skills to use through a variety of volunteer opportunities and activities that they plan and execute themselves.