Iowa Takes Part in Fifth Annual Search for America's Youth Volunteers.

Top Honorees Receive Cash Awards, Medallions and a Trip to Washington, D.C.

Fonda and Newton Youth Were Iowa's Honorees for 1999

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Young people in Iowa who are volunteering in their communities may apply for the fifth annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential in partnership with The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). These awards honor young people in grades 5-12 who, by performing volunteer service in the past year, have helped to make their communities better places to live. Applications are available through middle and high schools, Girl Scout councils, and county 4-H offices. Students must submit completed applications by October 29, 1999. The application is also available on the Internet at http://www.prudential.com, http://www.nassp.org, or by calling 800-843-7625, ext. 1143.

Last year, nearly 20,000 students nationwide participated in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. In Iowa, Kelly Linquist, 12, from Fonda, and Allison Wignall, 18, from Newton, were the state's top youth volunteers for 1999. Kelly, Iowa's top middle level volunteer, was honored for volunteering at a local nursing home. Allison, Iowa's top high school volunteer, was honored for her work as an AIDS activist. Allison was also honored as one of the nation's top ten youth volunteers of the year in The 1999 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program in May.

"Many young Americans are making a big difference in their communities by helping the less fortunate, fighting substance abuse, protecting the environment, and addressing other critical needs," said Prudential Chairman Art Ryan. "We created The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards to recognize these young volunteers, and to hold them up as role models for young and old alike."

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, which is also conducted in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, is part of The Prudential Spirit of Community Initiative, a series of programs designed to help rekindle America's community spirit by encouraging young people to volunteer. In addition to the Awards, the Initiative includes "Catch the Spirit," a free booklet of volunteer ideas for youth, and The Prudential Youth Leadership Institute, a leadership training program for high school students.

Participating middle and high schools, Girl Scout councils, and county 4-H offices across the country will select and honor their top youth volunteers, and nominate them for statewide and national recognition. Two top volunteers from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, will be selected as State Honorees in February 2000, and will receive $1,000, a silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., the following May for four days of recognition events. Other top honorees in each state will receive bronze medallions or Certificates of Excellence.

In May 2000, a national selection committee will name ten of the 104 State Honorees as America's top youth volunteers of the year at an awards ceremony in Washington. Each National Honoree will receive an additional $5,000, a gold medallion, and a crystal trophy for his or her school, Girl Scout council, or county 4-H organization.

"While the headlines usually dwell on a few young people gone wrong, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards has found tens of thousands of young people doing right by their fellow citizens," said Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director of NASSP. "Thousands of young people are rolling up their sleeves, lending their hands, and showing the world the meaning of true leadership and public service. They absolutely deserve our thanks and our recognition."

In addition to Girl Scouts of the USA and National 4-H Council, the program is supported by the American Association of School Administrators; the American Red Cross; the Council of the Great City Schools; Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America; Key Club International; National Council of La Raza; the National Middle School Association; the National School Boards Association; the National School Public Relations Association; the Points of Light Foundation; United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc.; the YMCA of the USA; and YWCA of the USA.

NASSP, based in Reston, Va., represents more than 42,000 secondary school principals in more than 35,000 public and private middle level and high schools. Prudential, with $375 billion in total assets managed and administered at year-end 1998, is the largest life insurance company in the United States and one of the largest diversified financial institutions in the world. Prudential has a global presence in 30 countries, providing a variety of products and services in the areas of insurance, investments, securities, and real estate to more than 30 million customers.