Madison Teen Among America's Top Student Volunteers

Alexandra Minutillo, 15, of Madison and Emily Christensen, 13, of Manchester today were named Connecticut’s top two youth volunteers of 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism, according to a prepared statement.

Alexandra was nominated by Daniel Hand High School in Madison. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 21st year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Alexandra, a sophomore at Daniel Hand High School, formed a nonprofit organization and school club that have raised more than $10,000 to buy gifts for teenage patients at Smilow Cancer Hospital.

Watching her grandparents struggle with cancer, Alexandra saw first-hand how draining the experience can be.

When she started high school, she decided she wanted to do something for young people undergoing cancer treatment. Through conversations with cancer specialists at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, she learned that most donations for young cancer patients are intended for pre-school and grade-school youngsters.

So she decided to focus on “the often-invisible teen population” and “provide age-specific items for these patients as they struggle with treatment and hospitalization,” said Alexandra.

After forming a nonprofit called “Smiles for Smilow,” Alexandra started a club at her high school that now has more than 40 members. Then she got to work planning fundraisers, publicizing them through social media and a website she created. Thus far, the club has had bake sales, sold novelty items, and solicited donations at shopping areas, local football games and parades.

Alexandra also speaks often to civic groups about donating to her cause. Among the items she has purchased with her proceeds are a media cabinet for the cancer center’s teen recreation area, a notebook computer and gift cards.

“We have been able to accomplish something that changes people’s lives,” said Alexandra.

As State Honorees, Alexandra and Emily each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2016.