Meet Ten Inspiring Teens In The Olympic Torch Relay
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh1/10Carolyn Houlahan
Age: 17
Hometown: Devon, PA
Cause: This beekeeper put her hobby to good use by starting Hive for Lives, an organization that sells wildflower honey to raise money for cancer research. Since its inception seven years ago, Hives for Lives has donated more than $200,000, and Carolyn has received the Presidential Call-to-Service Award from President George W. Bush.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh2/10Peyton Medick
Age: 14
Hometown: Weston, WI
Cause: This teen started Peyton’s Promise to empower students to fight world hunger. She’s spearheaded the collection of over 70 tons of food for local pantries, and travels the country to speak to students about the hunger plague.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh3/10Jillian Roberts
Age: 19
Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Cause: Jillian launched Just Shoe It to collect running shoes for people in more than 36 countries. So far, she's collected more than 8,600 pairs and recycled all shoes that cannot be re-worn.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh4/10Kylan Nieh
Age: 19
Hometown: Fremont, CA
Cause: This computer science student founded Internetting Family, a nonprofit that teaches computer skills to senior citizens, and WEducate, an organization that gives educational supplies to low-income students.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh5/10Marisa Grimes
Age: 19
Hometown: Ocean View, DE
Cause: Marisa started Operation HOPE to provide students in Kenya with school uniforms, and rallied her local community to raise close to $8,000. Last year, she launched a campaign to help tornado victims in Alabama.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh6/10Bailey Reese
Age: 15
Hometown: Niceville, FL
Cause: After Hurricane Ivan hit her hometown in 2004, Bailey was motivated to start Hero Hugs, an organization that sends packages to army troops to thank them for their relief efforts. She’s sent over 75,000 packages, and gives motivational speeches to her peers about supporting the troops.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh7/10Sarah Jo Lambert
Age: 19
Hometown: Lubbock, TX
Cause: As part of a Girl Scouts challenge, Sarah create a carbon-neutral environmental education center. Her green efforts earned the Barron Prize for Young Heroes.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh8/10Jordyn Schara
Age: 17
Hometown: North Freedom, WI
Cause: When prescription drugs are dumped down the drain, they pollute the groundwater. Jordyn created the Wisconsin Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal to create a safe way to dispose of medicines. Through this endeavor, Jordyn became an advocate for spreading drug abuse awareness, and launched a national program to mentor students across the country and collect misused prescription drugs.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh9/10Sarah Williams
Age: 19
Hometown: Pleasanton, CA
Cause: Sarah created Legacy Blanket Kits to provide warm, fleece blankets to foster children. She recently taught the craft to 10,000 Girl Scouts from all over the world so that they could return to their communities and expand the project.
Photo courtesy of Michael Pugh10/10Alex Urbach
Age: 16
Hometown: East Hills, NY
Cause: This teen filmmaker is creating an animated math and science film curriculum, Giving From the Ground Up, to promote literacy for children in developing countries. He’s also creating a healthy learning environment by funding water wells for schools in Africa and shipping medical supplies to the nation.
