Schools

Nonprofit Asks Local Teens to Showcase Their Good Deeds

Giving DuPage announces video contest for county's high school students.

A new video contest is asking , and all of DuPage County high schoolers, to tap into their giving spirits.

Giving DuPage is kicking off its first video contest and encouraging teenagers to share their love for volunteerism on camera. Students can submit videos through April 8 explaining why they volunteer, where they volunteer and what they like about it.

"We love the fact that youth in your community get it," said Kathy Blair, executive director of Giving DuPage, which connects donors and volunteers with local nonprofits in need of their help. "Youth here totally get volunteerism and why it's important … They are energized by it."

Lisa Traut, department chair for media communications at , is doing her best to let kids know about the opportunity to show off their charitable sides. There are 180 students at the school who are in the media program, she said.

"If they're volunteering, it would be nice to get the word out about those certain students and what they are doing," Traut said. "It's important for the students to know about others who are volunteering and maybe hearing how they can do the same and give back to their community."

Students in are encouraged to complete "an approved practicum of community service," she said, quoting the student handbook. "Those who complete 30 hours will have that accomplishment noted on their official transcript."

Posters for the Giving DuPage contest are circulating around Neuqua, Traut said.

Cash prizes of $750 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place videos will be awarded during the nonprofit's Volapalooza scheduled for May 10, Blair said. Videos will be submitted through SchoolTube.com, a national Website which Blair said is a secure, vetted platform for youth media.

"What's cool about SchoolTube is that DuPage County youth will be seen nationwide and their efforts will essentially be noted all over the world," Blair said.

She said she's noticed an increase in young people giving back in recent years and suspects it's "at least a statewide trend."

"From a very young age now, there's a culture of volunteerism that's being created," Blair said. "The giving back seems to be what kids are aligned with being raised with now. It translates even to work. Applicants are thinking, 'Where can I work that has a community conscience?'"

She hopes those such building blocks will become a lifelong commitment for today's teens.

"This is exciting," she said of the video contest. "We want to highlight these accomplishments and keep that momentum going."

Visit the Giving DuPage Website for official contest rules and regulations.

Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here