Senior is a Finalist for Prudential Community Award

Ava Librizzi, a senior at Saint Raphael Academy, was recently selected as a Distinguished Finalist in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring students in grades 5-12 for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Ava was congratulated for the award in class this week by Vice Principal for Academics Judy Baxter and Principal Dan Richard.

Just a little over a year ago, the Warwick resident began a non-profit organization called “Help a Hero” in response to seeing homeless veterans without shoes or clothing appropriate for winter. She began collecting new and slightly worn boots and new hats for homeless veterans and asked SRA and her local parish to help. She collected items and monetary donations worth more than $8,000 in just a few short months. She continues to work with Operation Stand Down Rhode Island to distribute the items to needy veterans, and she even combined forces with them to help with its annual coat drive this past fall. 

A representative of Prudential will present Ava with an engraved bronze medallion in the spring. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 25th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).