Number of Participants: 1
Hours Donated: 100
Value of Time Served: $845
Event Type: Civic & Community
Sport: Other
Date: February 27, 2018
Location:
Northport High School
Laurel Hill Road, Northport
NY
About:
Northport High School senior Zoe Perles was named one of eight distinguished finalists in the 2018 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in New York. This program is the nation’s largest youth-recognition program that is based on volunteer and community service alone.
Perles, raised in a home where serving the community and the less fortunate was a regular occurrence, has been committed to helping others for more than 13 years. Perles co-founded an annual Halloween bake sale that raises money for the food pantry at First Presbyterian Church in Northport.
“I was exposed to the ideas of poverty and hardship at young age,” said Perles, “and it helped me recognize other people’s plights as my own. Since then, I never wanted to stop helping others.”
Since the fundraiser’s creation over ten years ago, approximately $12,000 has been raised and donated to the food pantry. Perles now publicizes the sale through media and community outreach, and leads more than 30 student volunteers each year. Although headed to college in the fall, she would like to stay close enough to home that traveling back to help with the fundraiser will still be possible.
In the near future, Perles will be awarded a bronze medallion to honor her for this prestigious award.
“I know I’ll carry the lessons I’ve learned through helping others with me for the rest of my life,” Perles said.
Photo Caption: High School senior Zoe Perles was named one of eight distinguished finalists in the 2018 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in New York.
Photo courtesy of the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District
