St. Rose Student Named Top Youth Volunteer

Patrick Briscoe, a 13-year-old Newtown boy who gained television recognition for a penny drive that raised more than $1,200, has been named one of two top youth volunteers in the state by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, according to a press release.

The St. Rose of Lima School eighth grader collected 120,000 pennies as part of his "Forget Me Not Pennies 9/11 Memorial Fund," which was used to sponsor two cobblestones and a paver at the National 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Patrick gained recognition after the cable station Fox News ran a piece about his fundraising effort.

Patrick, as well as a girl, Sanam Rastegar, 17, of Weston, who started an annual jump-rope fundraiser that raised more than $100,000 for Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for children with serious illness, were recognized by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals in the award program, which is marking its 17th year.

Each teenager will receive $1,000, silver medallion and trip to Washington DC in early May. There, they will join honorees from other parts of the country. Ten then will be chosen and named national top youth volunteers of the year.