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The Everyday Young Hero program highlights one outstanding youth a week that are making extraordinary contributions and commitments to service. Nominations must come from a parent, teacher, or other adult mentor; supporting material is recommended. The Everyday Young Hero award is open to those between the ages of 5-25.

Awarding heroes to help more children. Our Awards recognize real-life heroes working to dramatically improve the lives of children. But that's not all: our Honorees also receive grant funds and media attention, both of which help their gold standard programs grow so that they will ultimately impact the lives of even more children.

Rohmer, Harriet. Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People who are Helping to Protect Our Planet. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2009. Age Range: 9 and up Publisher's Description: Rather than featuring the usual roundup of environmental heroes, this title spotlights 12 contemporary conservationists who are working to fight pollution in cities, oceans, and wetlands, from Alaska to Mexico City. Many of the featured activists are young people. At age 11, Alex Lin started a campaign in Rhode Island for the safe disposal of electronic waste ("Today's technology should not become tomorrow's toxic trash"). Erica Fernandez, a teenage Mexican immigrant in California, led a successful fight to prevent a pipeline that would transport highly explosive gas through her neighborhood. Julia Bonds, a coal-miner's daughter in Appalachia, is working to replace coal with wind power. The book's format is lackluster, but the black-and-white photos do show the individuals at work in their communities. The powerful mix of personal stories with crucial environmental and social issues will be a call to action for young readers, who will want to move on to the final section: "How You Can Get Involved."

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors outstanding young leaders who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Nominees, who may range in age from 8 to 18 years old, must have been the prime mover of a service activity, and demonstrated positive spirit and high moral purpose in accomplishing their goals.

Gina Capaldi, A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero (Minnesota: Carolrhoda Books, 2008). Grade Level: 2-4 Publisher Description: This story reveals the remarkable life of a Native American boy named Wassaja, or "Beckoning," who was kidnapped from his Yavapai tribe and sold as a slave. Adopted by an Italian photographer in 1871 and renamed Carlos Montezuma, the young boy traveled throughout the Old West, bearing witness to the prejudice against and poor treatment of Native Americans. Carlos eventually became a doctor and leader for his people, calling out for their rights. Gina Capaldi's exquisite paintings bring to life excerpts from Dr. Carlos Montezuma's own letters describing his childhood experiences. The culminating portrait provides an inventive look back into history through the eyes of a Native American hero.

The Jefferson Awards wants to help tell the country about the incredible service projects youth are doing. By entering your project on the Youth Service Challenge website, your group could gain local and national recognition, earn awards & cash prizes, or even a trip to Washington DC to be recognized at the Jefferson Awards National Gala! Enter your project in 3 simple steps on the website: 1. Sign up; 2. Tell us about your project; 3. Upload your results (photos, videos, etc.). It's simple and free! Be sure to enter before the deadline of April 30, 2013. You are changing the world! We want to tell the country!

Since 1996, DoSomething.org has honored the nation's best young world-changers, 25 and under. Do Something Award nominees and winners represent the pivotal "do-ers" in their field, cause, or issue. In 2013 five finalists will appear on the Do Something Awards on Vh1 and be rewarded with a community grant, media coverage and continued support from DoSomething.org. The grand prize winner will receive $100,000 during the broadcast. The deadline to apply is April 15th, 2013 by 5:00pm EST.

Bethel, Ellie. Michael Recycle. San Diego, CA: Worthwhile Books, 2008. Age Range: 6 and up Publisher's Description: Just in time for Earth Day on April 22, Michael Recycle tells the adventures of a young superhero whose power allows him to teach people about recycling. After cleaning up a town, the people declare: "To Michael Recycle! The green-caped crusader, our super-green hero, the planet's new savior!"