Deadline nears for compassionate nominees

Published 1:43 pm Thursday, October 6, 2016

Bainbridge Youth Services is looking for nominees for the 15th annual Compassionate Action Award.

Nominations will be accepted through Nov. 1.

Do you know a young person who goes above and beyond to help others? Or a budding philanthropist who started or supports a nonprofit? Or a student who strives to save the environment?

Teachers, counselors, parents, church leaders and other adults in the community who know and work with local youth are invited to submit the names of recipients for the award. Please submit a nomination form online at the BYS website: www.bainbridgeyouthservices.org.

Established in 2001, the award honors local youths who give of themselves in a spirit of generosity and service to others.

“BYS believes it is important in our fast-paced, competitive and conflict-ridden world to recognize excellence of character, particularly acts of generosity, courage, integrity and stewardship,” said Marina Cofer-Wildsmith, BYS executive director.

The award recognizes those youth (grades 7 through 12) who are ambassadors of service to others and who go beyond what is required or expected in school, jobs, activities and in public and personal relationships.

BYS honored more than 100 youth during last year’s ceremony. Honorees included students who did everything from volunteering at West Sound Wildlife, to organizing community gardens, to creating Unity Day at Eagle Harbor High School to promoting environmental awareness and much more.

This year’s award ceremony will be 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20 at Bethany Lutheran Church (7968 Finch Road).

In addition to sponsoring the awards, BYS offers numerous services to local teens. In this school year alone, BYS will provide 1,700 hours of free counseling to island teens.