Provided by Prince William County
The Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Council, or HCHY, is accepting nominations for local heroes who have been an inspiration to youth in the community in 2016. A local hero could be a neighbor, a friend, a colleague or an organization.
Nominations should include the name and contact information of the individual or organization being nominated along with a written description, in fewer than 500 words, setting out specific examples of how the nominee met any or all of the four qualities of communicating, empowering, educating and serving the community to nurture competent, caring and responsible youth.
Some of the things people have done to earn the award in the past include working to prevent child abuse, leading youth in assembling lunches for the homeless, speaking to youth about making good choices, leading gang intervention efforts and helping to grant wishes to seriously ill children.
The HCHY initiative was introduced to Prince William County in 2006 by the public school system administration that engaged and partnered with Prince William County government staff, local businesses, health care industry, faith based leaders and high school students to develop a Prince William County Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Council.
Tracy Hannigan, co-chair of the council and Recreation Division Chief for the Prince William County Parks and Recreation Department, said a committee of high school students along with past winners read and rate the nomination essays. “We try to have youth participate in the scoring so that they can see what adults are doing out there for children. It’s very heartwarming to read these stories because a lot of it never gets out to the public, so we’re happy to help highlight the efforts that go toward the best interest of children.”
The council meets every other month and works to ensure young people achieve success in school and beyond by encouraging an engaged community to work collaboratively for them, and with the young people in the community.
For more information about PWC HCHY, please contact Hannigan at 703-792-5786 or Carolyn Custard, council co-chair and Prince William County School System Director of Student Services, at 703-791-7259.
Nominations should be submitted to thannigan@pwcgov.org by Monday, Dec. 5.
