San Diego Teen Wins International Young Eco-Hero Award

SAN DIEGO, CA — A San Diego teen won the 2022 International Young Eco-Hero Award, Action For Nature announced Monday.

Jessica Ong, 16, was one of 16 young environmental activists to win the award, which honors eco-conscious youth ages 8 to 16 who are "taking crucial steps to solve tough environmental problems," according to the nonprofit organization. Jessica won third place in the 13- through 16-year-old category for her project, "Toys2Care."

"Young people like Jessica have shown that the next generation of leaders is here, and they are taking action across the globe now to address the climate crisis and solve local, national, and global environmental challenges," said Beryl Kay, president of Action For Nature, which encourages young people to nurture a love and respect for the planet and to take personal action to improve the environment.

"The projects that young people like Jessica have created are having real and important impacts on their communities, helping to solve global climate challenges, and are inspiring others — including adults — to do what they can to help."

In December 2020, Jessica founded Toys2Care, which helps to relocate toys from privileged communities to those in need. She has helped 100,000 families living in San Diego who were unable to provide gifts for their children during birthdays and holidays, which has also significantly reduced waste, according to Action For Nature.

"When I heard about children not getting toys, it did not make sense to me that children had to go without when so much was being thrown away," Ong said. "We have resources. We have kids who need it. We just needed something to connect them."

Award winners were selected by a panel of independent judges, including experts in environmental science, biology and education, according to Action For Nature. Since 2003, Action For Nature has recognized more than 341 Eco-Heroes from 26 U.S. states and over 31 countries.