Kids & Family
MSD Junior Wins Summer Of Service Award For Founding Nonprofit
Gabriella Handal founded the nonprofit Sunshine Collection in 2009, which collects needed items and monetary donations for the children suffering from cancer and other life threatening diseases.
A junior at Mount St. Dominic junior recently was awarded for her service projects in nearby Totowa.
Gabriella Handal, 16, received the ABC Network sponsored Summer of Service Award and a $1,000 prize for founding a nonprofit that collects donations for children with cancer and other diseases. The award program supports youth-led service projects that will create lasting, positive change in Totowa.
ABC and Youth Service America, a leader in the service movement, teamed up to provide the ABC Summer of Service Awards which recognizes young people who are creating positive change through volunteering and service.
Youth ages 5-18 located in and around ABC-affiliate communities were eligible to submit their good work and be considered for an ABC Summer of Service Award.
Handal founded the nonprofit Sunshine Collection in 2009, which collects needed items and monetary donations for the children suffering from cancer and other life threatening diseases, at the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.
In the last 5 years, the generosity and support of so many incredible individuals have made it possible for the foundation to have collected over 18,000 items, a $43,000 donation of Apple iPads and $9,000 in donations.
It has grown from the volunteer efforts of Handal and her mother into a true
community effort with over 20 participating schools and 40 volunteers, which include family, friends, students, local businesses, churches and more.
The hope of the Sunshine Collection is to spread lots of sunshine and put a smile on the faces of all of these children.
“Through the ABC Summer of Service Awards, we were able to award young people that have stepped up to address a community issue that directly affects them,” said Steven A. Culbertson, president and CEO of YSA.
“Through this program, youth can get the recognition they deserve as leaders and change-makers.”
For more information about the ABC Awards please visit: www.YSA.org/ABC.
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