North Penn Student Named 2017 Montgomery County 'Youth Hero'

LANSDALE, PA -- A North Penn student has been named the 2017 Montgomery County 'Youth Hero' by the American Red Cross.

Senior Madeline Payne, vice president of the North Penn Key Club, was nomiantd in the fall by her advisor, Linda Law. Madeline has worked with homeless populations in Philadelphia since she was a sophomore.

The youth hero award "honors individuals who truly exhibit the spirit of humanitarianism by showing courage, kindness and unselfish character through their acts of heroism in our community," North Penn said.

In December of 2014, Madeline purchased winter clothing items, put them in bags, decorated them with inspirational messages, and handed them out to homeless people in Love Park in Philadelphia.

“I distributed a variety of simple and cheap items,” Madeline said. “I didn’t anticipate the large number of people in need, so I was only able to aid of small percentage of the people there that day at Love Park.”

Madeline then presented her project idea to North Penn Principal Todd Bauer. With the help of the Key Club, 500 items for homeless people were collected and distributed during December of 2015. And by 2016, more than 1,000 items were gathered, as the Key Club partnered with the National Honor Society and the Career and Community Leaders of America.

She will honored at a breakfast later in the spring.

Image via North Penn School District