Press Releases:

6-06 American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys Awards Greenman

MARATHON, Fla. – Marathon High School Sophomore Katie Greenman was flown to Washington, D.C. in May to be a guest speaker at the 2006 American Red Cross National Convention. Greenman is a student volunteer with Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP) which regularly partners with the Red Cross for training, education, and service projects. MYCP was also instrumental in assisting with Greenman’s video application sent to the Red Cross. She was one of two youth selected nationwide for this honor.

In Washington, the Saturday Youth Conference luncheon program began with presentations by two young women, Katie Greenman and Meicheng Shi, who “represent the future -- and, in many ways, the present -- for the Red Cross,” said a Red Cross representative. Greenman, a volunteer with the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys, was recognized as the Navin Narayan National Youth Speaker Alternate. While Shi, from the Santa Clara Valley Chapter in San Jose, was honored as this year’s Navin Narayan National Youth Speaker.

Greenman, who serves on the Youth Leadership Team as the International Service Liaison for Greater Miami and the Keys chapter of American Red Cross, introduced an emotional video about Navin Narayan. “A volunteer from the age of 14, Narayan rose quickly in the Red Cross, becoming the chairperson for the National Youth Council and representing the organization on Capitol Hill and in other prestigious settings. Dedicated, compassionate and innovative, Narayan inspired youths and adults alike before losing his battle with cancer in March 2000,” said a Red Cross representative.
Following the video, Greenman urged Red Crossers to support the Navin Narayan Youth Scholarship Fund, which gives college scholarships to Red Cross youth volunteers. For information about how to contribute, contact Susan Diranian, Office of the National Chair of Volunteers, at DiranianS@usa.redcross.org or (202) 303-4918.

The American Red Cross has awarded Navin Narayan Scholarships to two students each year who served as Red Cross volunteers throughout their high school years. Award recipients are known to have received high marks and attained high achievements in school, and received great recommendations from their Red Cross chapters and high school teachers. The winning applicants were selected by the National Youth Council. A Red Cross Representative said, “We try to find people that exemplify those things that Navin Narayan had—a love of academics and humanitarianism.”

True to Navin Narayan’s spirit, dedication, and enthusiasm, Greenman is exemplary because of her dedication to orphans in Kenya, Africa for whom she raised $10,000 to buy shoes, toilets, beds, text books and school supplies. The money was also used to provide new beds, construction improvements, plus school text books and supplies. In addition, Greenman has served more than 100 hours of community service hours this year alone, most of which was with Monroe Youth Challenge Program, which earned her the President’s Volunteer Service Award she recently received from Superintendent Randy Acevedo at a Monroe Youth Challenge Program (MYCP) Awards Banquet. Greenman was also recognized for her participation as a presentor at the recent Youth Ethics Initiative conference in Miami on the subject of “Torture: Is it ever justified?” MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter said, “Katie’s input at the youth ethics conference and her leadership with International Humanitarian Law training for her peers has been remarkable. She deserved this Red Cross award and we’re impressed she was recognized nationally for her dedication to raising awareness regarding the needs of others internaionally and her generous actions.”

The American Red Cross created the youth scholarship in Navin Narayan’s name because he made significant humanitarian contributions to the organization. Narayan died from cancer at only 23 years of age, but he accomplished remarkable, selfless achievements, and was the youngest person to chair the National Youth Council. He is described as an “incredibly dedicated, caring, compassionate, and innovative volunteer.” Narayan was a sought-after national and international speaker on human rights, and a tireless advocate for Red Cross causes. In addition to volunteering regularly in his own community, Navin Narayan had traveled to India to help poverty stricken people in that nation.

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information call MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter at (305) 852-1664 or go to www.keysschools.com.