LI Teen Receives $10K Check For Charity On Good Morning America

NORTH BABYLON, NY — A North Babylon teenager is being nationally recognized for her service to others.

Emily Meyer, 17, was featured on the morning television news show, Good Morning America (GMA) on Thursday, for work with her charity, Emily's Awesome Toy Drive.

Since 2010, the toy drive has collected more than 20,000 toys for Long Island children, who are forced to spend Christmas Day in a hospital.

Emily was inspired to create her organization after she became sick on Christmas Day at the age of four. She woke up to a volunteer from the Child Life Program who handed her a Christmas present.

"That toy drive is such a special part of my life," said Emily. "It excites me because I know that I can bring more smiles to kids' faces."

In a pre-taped segment, several people spoke about how they were positively affected by the toy drive.

"She's a kind-hearted, motivated, enthusiastic, and she's humble," said Kate Fenton, director of the Child Life program at Good Samaritan University Hospital in a pre-tapped segment. "She just knows what it means to receive a toy while you're in the hospital.

At the end of the segment, Emily was gifted with a $10,000 check from financial services company and GMA sponsor Netspend, to help fund the toy drive.

"It really excites me that these hospitals can not only use it for the holiday season, but also they can continue to use the toys throughout the year for other holidays," said Emily.

She also received an honorary white coat from Good Samaritan University Hospital, and was named their official "Awesome Toy Ambassador."