Kids with a Heart seeks to recognize youth in our community who go beyond what is expected... beyond team membership, beyond school requirements, beyond club expectations. We are looking for youth who give of themselves in a spirit of generosity. We wish to encourage community service and honor those youth who exemplify...

SERVICE, INTEGRITY, COURAGE, STEWARDSHIP

The 2006 Compassionate Action Awards Celebration was held:
November 19, 2006
4:00 to 6:00 PM
Bethany Lutheran Church
7968 Finch Road NE
Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Youth Services celebrated the contributions of our young people with Compassionate Action Award, distributed to the honorees at this event. Community members made nominations to the BYS Kids with a Heart Committee.

2006 Camp Siberia Counselors

John Baggett, Jessi Dale, Anna Houk, Phoebe Lentz, Max McDermott, Callie McKenzie, Jilli O’Mara, Lucas Pearl, Maggie Pool, Andrew Powers, Samuel Nash Reijnen, Tess Sadowsky, Graham Schneider, Lilly Schneider, Bevan Taylor, Nicholai Wallace, Natalie Willits
The 2006 Camp Siberia counselors showed extraordinary caring, generosity and support toward each other and the outside world working in soup kitchens before their trip, as ambassadors of goodwill while traveling and especially toward the orphans in their care at the summer camp. They were tireless in the attention, warmth and love they gave to “their” children. Since their return, the have committed themselves to helping Camp Siberia provide scholarships for abandoned children when they leave the orphanage.

Evan Bombardier
Evan demonstrates selfless service to others in many ways. He has raised money for landmine accident survivors in SE Asia, has built homes with Habitat for Humanity and helps children with Asperger’s syndrome learn social skills at a private clinic.

Aurora Cauthers-Knox
Rory is active in the garden club at West Sound Academy. Throughout the summer Rory diligently cared for the “Giving Garden” at the school tending and harvesting vegetables and delivering them to Helpline House food bank each week.

Shannon Cosgrove
Shannon has been a volunteer at the Bainbridge Public Library this past year. She takes on extra tasks, shows creativity and conscientiousness in everything she does and is unflappable in the busy after school atmosphere of the library.

Lauren Cuykendall
Lauren is a natural leader as can be seen in her 8-year commitment to 4-H. She has been an enthusiastic and inspirational group leader and camp counselor for young girls, sharing knowledge, skills, experience and passion for animals. This summer she built new benches in the rabbit barn at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds to make a contribution and give back in appreciation.

Meredith Daviess
Meredith has been a kind and caring volunteer for many years. She has collected and delivered supplies to students in Guatemala and continues to nurture friendships with people she met there. She has worked with students with disabilities since she was a young child. She teaches younger children at her church and volunteers at Ordway.

Will Devereaux
Will demonstrated love and compassion for two brothers on his soccer team who had to give up soccer because of a rare heart ailment. Will immediately organized the soccer team to give their friends golf memberships at Meadowmeer so that they would still have a sport to play.

Maddy Figueroa
Maddy created the organization “Bainbridge Kids Care” and established its website, www.BainbridgeKidsCare.com to encourage other kids in the community to get involved in community service. One goal is to raise $5,000 to build a new school in tsunami devastated Sri Lanka. In September, she made over $3,000 at her own garage sale, mobilizing friends, neighbors and strangers to help accomplish that goal.

Matt Hamel
Matt, new to Bainbridge last year, became an invaluable volunteer at the Bainbridge Public Library. He learned quickly and could be counted on to take on any project, work diligently until it was done well. His commitment eventually led to a paid position and he continues to volunteer on top of that.

Allison Hepp
Allison has been a devoted, active and protective support to her best friend who tragically lost her parents last year. She has unselfishly made changes in her own life to care and be with her friend.

Spencer Hepp
Spencer has been a conscientious volunteer at the Bainbridge Public Library and for the Bainbridge Ometepe Sister Island Association. He is a part of the leadership team at Eagle Harbor High School, works in the EHHS recycling program is organizing a talent show for the students there. He is known in his community for his compassion and kindness and is always willing to help others, listen and solve problems with peers and adults.

Reading Friends of the Bainbridge Public Library

Rebecca Hughes, Stefani Paul, Lilia Paul, Grace Burgin, Colleen Gallager, Andria Clark, Jennifer Mullis, Spencer Alpaugh, Isabelle Klein
These young people are enthusiastic and committed volunteers of the Reading Friends program at the library. With warmth, creativity, flexibility and a passion for reading, they invite the youngest of library patrons to share a book or two or five. They have also written book reviews and recommendations for young children and their parents.

Erika Saeger
Kind and considerate, Erika always has time for others. She reaches out to everyone with generosity and caring, especially kids with special needs. When her best friend, a fellow student died last year she organized a tribute evening in her honor helping friends and family cope with their grief.

Ariel Smith
A passion for reading led Arial to volunteer at the Bainbridge Public Library. She took on a project organizing music CDs that might not ever have been completed. She also assists in the Reading Friends program coordinating and inspiring volunteers.

Barbara Seely
Barbara has a history of service. She has volunteered in an orphanage in India, worked at a summer camp for children with disabilities, and initiated countless random acts of kindness. This past year, she generously gave her time and energy to support a family of friends whose son had severe medical problems. She attended medical appointments with them, stayed with them during a long surgery, became a “big sister” to their middle school aged daughter, offering support and companionship in the family’s time of need.

Olivia Smith
Olivia began volunteering at Wyatt House helping with their Bingo games. She now calls the Bingo and is appreciated by everyone who plays in addition to the staff. She has been such a valuable volunteer that she has been hired to also work in the kitchen.

Eliana Victurine
Eliana is an amazing problem solver and an astute observer of individual and community needs. At her middle school she organized students to make a quilt to give to Katrina victims. She has volunteered at PAWS, to care for a mother cat and her litter of kittens until they were adoptable.

Zach Smith
For the past two summers Zach has volunteered to work with middle school students in the Extended School Year program for special education students, working on physical fitness activities and lacrosse skills. He developed a special bond with one student, George, who was challenging to motivate. The night before Zach left for college, he attended George’s 13th birthday party, the only friend George wanted at his party. Zach has encouraged younger students to also volunteer with the ESY program and has been a wonderful role model to them.

United Brothers and Sisters

Parisa Mardmehdiabadi, Van Tran, Euimin Jung, Insong Jung,
Karmel Keeton, Dan’a Platts
Demonstrating their motto: “Breaking down barriers; Building up community”, these six energetic students have revived the United Brothers and Sisters club at Bainbridge High School. They have invested countless hours in organizing multicultural events at BHS to promote diversity and unity at BHS and in our community.

Bainbridge Youth Services would like to thank the
following nominators for recognizing our 2006 Honorees:

Thank you to our sponsors and donors:

Grace Episcopal Church
Bethany Lutheran Church
Eagle Harbor Book Company
Bainbridge Gardens

A very special thanks to:

Tom Tyner, our inspirational speaker
Kristine Furru for the awards calligraphy