Local Youth Named Top Ten Volunteer

Kaylee Marie Radzyminski has just wrapped up a jam packed weekend to recognize her work for Tunes for Troops.

The 16-year-old from Cleveland was named one of America's top ten youth volunteers for 2008 in a ceremony today at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

Kaylee Marie started Tunes for the Troops in 2005 which helps collect and send CDS and DVDs to those serving overseas in the military.  The collection campaign has spread across the country and resulted in the shipment of more than 17,000 discs worth over $2.5 million to troops overseas.

While Kaylee was attending a Sea Cadet training program in 2005, she met military personnel who had just returned home and what they missed the most was entertainment.  "I began to brainstorm," she said.  "I first collected my CDs and DVDs, then my friends collected theirs, then my school, and it eventually made it way to the community, the state and now it has become a nationwide campaign."

She was selected from a field of close to 20,000 applicants across the country for the Prudential Spirit of the Community Award.  She received a personal award of $5,000, an engraved silver medallion, crystal trophy for her school and a $5,000 grant to go to a nonprofit of her choice.

"Thank you for this opportunity to be with all you wonderful volunteers," Kaylee said in her acceptance speech.  "I mean we all make a difference. And it shows because of all the people that have been helped and all the lives that have been touched. Thank you very much."

All the volunteers in this weekend's recognition were congratulated by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York.

Currently her mailbox set up for Tunes for the Troops gets about 2,000 discs each week.