WHS Student Honored at DC Ceremony

Massachusetts’s top two youth volunteers of the year, Rebecca Ackerman, 16, of Westborough and Grace Kirrane, 12, of Fitchburg, were honored in Washington, DC on Sunday, May 6, for their outstanding volunteer service during the presentation of The 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

The students, along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country, received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning at the 17th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, DC, for the recognition event.

Rebecca, a junior at , leads a fundraising team that has generated more than $85,000 for autism research over the past six years, and works in a variety of other capacities to raise awareness of autism.

“My twin brother has never spoken to me, or given me a hug,” she said. “Even when he stands right beside me, he’s in a different world. David has autism.”

When she was 11, Rebecca realized that, even though one in every 110 children has this disorder, most people were not familiar with autism and not much money was being spent on research. “I was determined to change that reality,” she said.

Rebecca organized a team of friends and family members to participate in an annual fund-raising walk for Autism Speaks, a national organization, and to work on autism funding and awareness projects throughout the year. As captain of the Doing It For Dave team, she writes letters asking for donations, conducts bake sales and yard sales, operates lemonade stands and coordinates car washes.

Rebecca, who also serves on the Boston Autism Speaks Committee, helps coordinate the organization’s annual city-wide walk, gives inspirational speeches, leads webinars and mentors new walk teams. She has recently been named Youth Committee Chair at Autism Speaks where she is working to expand youth involvement in the cause. She also raised awareness at her school by getting students to participate in the national Light It Up Blue campaign. In addition, she started a charitable organization, Cake Cause, that provides baked goods in exchange for donations.

“I wish that my brother had his own voice,” said Rebecca. “Since he cannot talk, I will do my best to honor him using mine.”

Grace, a sixth-grader at Memorial Middle School, made 57 fleece blankets for the Fitchburg Fire and Police departments to give to children rescued in emergency situations. When Grace was younger, her grandmother made special blankets for Grace and her siblings. “I remembered how much I enjoyed wrapping myself in my blanket,” she said. “I began to think about how I could help give other children that same feeling of warmth and comfort.” She especially thought of children rescued from fires, since her uncle is a firefighter, and other kids who have to be removed from troubled homes.

“Through their extraordinary acts of volunteerism, these students are powerful examples of the way one young person can make a big impact,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “We are proud to honor them for their achievements, and hope their stories inspire others to consider how they, too, can make a difference.”

Information courtesy of Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

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