Filter heroes statewide, by region or by cause.
Canton
Hero Story
Rebecca is the kind of person who makes a difference not just through what she does but through the way she inspires those around her. Her dedication to helping others has left a lasting impact on individuals, organizations, and the entire community. With creativity, leadership, and a deep sense of empathy, she has transformed lives and encouraged countless others to get involved.
One of Rebecca’s most meaningful contributions is the Peace of Mind Book Club, a program that has introduced local elementary students to over 2,000 books. By curating a diverse collection of 120 books, training 19 volunteers, and leading discussions on character growth and resilience, she has created a space where young readers develop not only literacy skills but also empathy and understanding. She carefully chose the books so that readers would see themselves in the texts, but also have their perspectives widened by others. The stories featured characters of different backgrounds, abilities, cultures. Research shows that reading fiction fosters kindness and broadens viewpoints, and through this initiative, students have discovered a love for reading while gaining essential social and emotional skills.
Beyond literacy, Rebecca has made a profound impact on foster children through the Fostering Kindness Clothing, Book, and Necessities Drive. Over the past three years, she has collected more than $20,000 worth of donations, growing contributions each year. This initiative not only provides essential resources for children in need but also raises awareness about the challenges they face, inspiring the community to step up and help.
Rebecca has also championed STEM education, helping to expand opportunities for young scientists. As a leader in the STEAM Fair, she increased student participation by over 50 percent, recruited volunteers, and mentored students, ensuring that even those without external support could engage in hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and confidence.
What makes Rebecca’s impact so remarkable is the way she brings people together. The Peace of Mind Book Club is more than a reading program. It is a movement. She has built a team of high school volunteers who mentor younger students, expanding the program to every elementary school in the Plymouth-Canton district. The ripple effect of her work will continue long after she moves on.
Her involvement with the SJ5K logistics committee has helped organize a race that supports local families facing medical crises. She has shown an incredible ability to plan, collaborate, and bring large-scale volunteer efforts to life, setting an example for her peers and inspiring more students to take part in meaningful service projects.
Rebecca’s compassion extends to her work with the Pope Francis Center Sandwich Ministry, where she spends Sundays making meals for individuals experiencing homelessness. She also dedicates time to tutoring peers in math and Spanish, offering encouragement and guidance to those who need it.
What truly sets Rebecca apart is not just the number of initiatives she has led but the depth of their impact. The Peace of Mind Book Club seamlessly integrates her passions: reading, mental health awareness, and diversity advocacy, making it an extremely well designed student-led program. She has secured community funding for bookstore gift certificates as reading incentives and created engaging activities like Jeopardy-style contests to keep students motivated.
Her Fostering Kindness drive has grown steadily, with donations increasing from $3,000 to $10,000 annually. By using social media and personal networks, she has mobilized a community to support foster youth in Michigan in a meaningful way.
Rebecca’s work is not just about logging volunteer hours. It is about creating programs that truly make a difference. Her leadership, compassion, and ability to bring people together make her an outstanding candidate for the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award. Her contributions have already changed lives, and her efforts will continue to shape the community for years to come.
Peace of Mind Book Club, Founder and Facilitator (4-6 hours per week))
Participants have read and recorded over 2000 books!
Founded a club for local elementary school students in Plymouth-Canton to explore books with diverse characters and perspectives.
Recruited and trained 19 volunteers to mentor readers.
Curated a list of 120 books and facilitated discussions on empathy, character growth, and personal ratings.
Secured community funding to reward top participants with book store gift certificates.
Recorded student responses on a Google Form to track engagement.
Fostering Kindness – Clothing, Book, and Necessities Drive, Founder and Facilitator (Three years, approximately 30 hours per year)
Initiated a clothing drive supporting Michigan Foster Closet and Plymouth Community Foster Closet.
Collected $3,000 worth of clothing and supplies in the first year, $6,000 in the second year, and $10,000 in the third year.
The total of donations has surpassed $20,000 in value.
Promoted the drive using social media and personal connections from sports teams, friends, and church.
STEAM Fair, Co-Chair (Three years, 3-4 hours per week, December through March)
Co-chaired the event and increased participation from under 100 to 150 students.
Delivered presentations to classrooms and mentored students on project development.
Secured volunteers and mentorship for young students so that unsupported students could participate.
Community Book Club For Youth in the Park, Founder and Host (6-8 hours per week, June through August)
Chose books with diverse characters and settings, promoting justice-based discussions.
Researched and developed discussion questions and led group conversations.
Pope Francis Center Sandwich Ministry (One year, 2 hours per week, all year round)
Prepared and deliver sandwiches every Sunday to support individuals experiencing homelessness.
Volunteer Tutor – Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Spanish (Three years, 1-4 hours per week, all year round)
Tutored peers in mathematics and Spanish, encouraged by teachers and peers to provide support.
Experienced the rewarding impact of helping others achieve "lightbulb moments."
High School Link Crew Junior year, 18 hours during summer, 1 hour per week, September through June)
Attended trainings to lead groups of freshman as they transitioned to high school
Gave tours of our enormous, three-school campus.
Mentored freshman and provided support and tutoring during homeroom.
Logistics Committee – SJ5K (Local 5k started in 2011 to raise funds for locals with medical crises) (Sophomore year, 1-2 hours per week, January through May)
Planned event timelines, materials, and logistics for the SJ5K community race.
Attended weekly meetings and collaborated with others to ensure a smooth race day.
Canton
Hero Story
Rebecca is the kind of person who makes a difference not just through what she does but through the way she inspires those around her. Her dedication to helping others has left a lasting impact on individuals, organizations, and the entire community. With creativity, leadership, and a deep sense of empathy, she has transformed lives and encouraged countless others to get involved.
One of Rebecca’s most meaningful contributions is the Peace of Mind Book Club, a program that has introduced local elementary students to over 2,000 books. By curating a diverse collection of 120 books, training 19 volunteers, and leading discussions on character growth and resilience, she has created a space where young readers develop not only literacy skills but also empathy and understanding. She carefully chose the books so that readers would see themselves in the texts, but also have their perspectives widened by others. The stories featured characters of different backgrounds, abilities, cultures. Research shows that reading fiction fosters kindness and broadens viewpoints, and through this initiative, students have discovered a love for reading while gaining essential social and emotional skills.
Beyond literacy, Rebecca has made a profound impact on foster children through the Fostering Kindness Clothing, Book, and Necessities Drive. Over the past three years, she has collected more than $20,000 worth of donations, growing contributions each year. This initiative not only provides essential resources for children in need but also raises awareness about the challenges they face, inspiring the community to step up and help.
Rebecca has also championed STEM education, helping to expand opportunities for young scientists. As a leader in the STEAM Fair, she increased student participation by over 50 percent, recruited volunteers, and mentored students, ensuring that even those without external support could engage in hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and confidence.
What makes Rebecca’s impact so remarkable is the way she brings people together. The Peace of Mind Book Club is more than a reading program. It is a movement. She has built a team of high school volunteers who mentor younger students, expanding the program to every elementary school in the Plymouth-Canton district. The ripple effect of her work will continue long after she moves on.
Her involvement with the SJ5K logistics committee has helped organize a race that supports local families facing medical crises. She has shown an incredible ability to plan, collaborate, and bring large-scale volunteer efforts to life, setting an example for her peers and inspiring more students to take part in meaningful service projects.
Rebecca’s compassion extends to her work with the Pope Francis Center Sandwich Ministry, where she spends Sundays making meals for individuals experiencing homelessness. She also dedicates time to tutoring peers in math and Spanish, offering encouragement and guidance to those who need it.
What truly sets Rebecca apart is not just the number of initiatives she has led but the depth of their impact. The Peace of Mind Book Club seamlessly integrates her passions: reading, mental health awareness, and diversity advocacy, making it an extremely well designed student-led program. She has secured community funding for bookstore gift certificates as reading incentives and created engaging activities like Jeopardy-style contests to keep students motivated.
Her Fostering Kindness drive has grown steadily, with donations increasing from $3,000 to $10,000 annually. By using social media and personal networks, she has mobilized a community to support foster youth in Michigan in a meaningful way.
Rebecca’s work is not just about logging volunteer hours. It is about creating programs that truly make a difference. Her leadership, compassion, and ability to bring people together make her an outstanding candidate for the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award. Her contributions have already changed lives, and her efforts will continue to shape the community for years to come.
Peace of Mind Book Club, Founder and Facilitator (4-6 hours per week))
Participants have read and recorded over 2000 books!
Founded a club for local elementary school students in Plymouth-Canton to explore books with diverse characters and perspectives.
Recruited and trained 19 volunteers to mentor readers.
Curated a list of 120 books and facilitated discussions on empathy, character growth, and personal ratings.
Secured community funding to reward top participants with book store gift certificates.
Recorded student responses on a Google Form to track engagement.
Fostering Kindness - Clothing, Book, and Necessities Drive, Founder and Facilitator (Three years, approximately 30 hours per year)
Initiated a clothing drive supporting Michigan Foster Closet and Plymouth Community Foster Closet.
Collected $3,000 worth of clothing and supplies in the first year, $6,000 in the second year, and $10,000 in the third year.
The total of donations has surpassed $20,000 in value.
Promoted the drive using social media and personal connections from sports teams, friends, and church.
STEAM Fair, Co-Chair (Three years, 3-4 hours per week, December through March)
Co-chaired the event and increased participation from under 100 to 150 students.
Delivered presentations to classrooms and mentored students on project development.
Secured volunteers and mentorship for young students so that unsupported students could participate.
Community Book Club For Youth in the Park, Founder and Host (6-8 hours per week, June through August)
Chose books with diverse characters and settings, promoting justice-based discussions.
Researched and developed discussion questions and led group conversations.
Pope Francis Center Sandwich Ministry (One year, 2 hours per week, all year round)
Prepared and deliver sandwiches every Sunday to support individuals experiencing homelessness.
Volunteer Tutor - Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Spanish (Three years, 1-4 hours per week, all year round)
Tutored peers in mathematics and Spanish, encouraged by teachers and peers to provide support.
Experienced the rewarding impact of helping others achieve "lightbulb moments."
High School Link Crew Junior year, 18 hours during summer, 1 hour per week, September through June)
Attended trainings to lead groups of freshman as they transitioned to high school
Gave tours of our enormous, three-school campus.
Mentored freshman and provided support and tutoring during homeroom.
Logistics Committee - SJ5K (Local 5k started in 2011 to raise funds for locals with medical crises) (Sophomore year, 1-2 hours per week, January through May)
Planned event timelines, materials, and logistics for the SJ5K community race.
Attended weekly meetings and collaborated with others to ensure a smooth race day.