Community Corner
South Windsor Resident Named 'Hasbro Community Action Hero' for Her Service Leadership
17-year-old Connecticut Resident Recognized for Her Inspiring Volunteer Efforts
Samantha Petersen, 17-year-old South Windsor resident, was just named a Hasbro Community Action Hero for her incredible volunteer efforts to create positive change. Hasbro, in partnership with generationOn - the youth division of Points of Light - selected 10 service leaders out of several hundred submissions of youth that have made a difference both in their hometown communities and the world through hands-on service projects that create awareness for important social issues.
At the age of 15, Samantha underwent spinal fusion surgery to correct her severe scoliosis, and after lying in the ICU for days, Sami realized that her next step would be to give back to others who were facing this medical condition. Sami founded SHIFT Scoliosis, a nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate the challenges associated with complex spinal diseases through education and connections to medical care. The program that Sami is most passionate about is Seeing the Curve, which establishes screening clinics in impoverished communities by transferring knowledge to local adults and teaching them how to run clinics.
On Saturday, April 18th, Sami received her Hasbro Community Action Hero award along with a $1,000 educational scholarship and a $500 grant to her selected non-profit during a celebration at the generationOn Block Party in Los Angeles.
