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Many of those honored Monday night at the sixth annual "Salute to Service in Delaware" have devoted their long lives to serving others.

But some have also made a huge impact in their communities at a very young age.

And it was the youth who stole the show Monday as the Wilmington-based Jefferson Awards Foundation, partnered with The News Journal, honored young people, employees, entrepreneurs and businesses that dream and work toward changing the world.

More than 225 people were on hand at the Baby Grand in downtown Wilmington as nine awards were presented.

Receiving the only standing ovation of the night was 7-year-old Enzo Vincent of Dover, who has orchestrated Enzo's Pajama Drive for Hope. 

Vincent received the Outstanding Youth Service in the Jefferson Awards' LEAD360 Challenge.

His project launched two years ago and he has donated more than 1,000 pairs of pajamas to children in need at Christmas.

By the end of this year, he plans to have his own nonprofit 501(c)(3) and aims to donate another 1,000 pairs of pajamas and include a personal note of encouragement with each pair to youth across Delaware.

Vincent said he has received a pair of pajamas every year at Thanksgiving to start out the holiday season, and when he was 5 years old he told his mother he wanted every child to have new pajamas and feel the warmth and love he feels with each new pair.

"Every kid should have that feeling, no matter when it is," Vincent said. "I will continue to pray for the children in need and continue to spread hope."

Reagan and Payton Garnsey, ages 11 and 6, were also in the spotlight as the national LEAD360 winners. 

The Dover sisters founded Buckets of Love, a nonprofit through which they clean, shop for and fill buckets for sick and deserving children receiving medical care in Delaware.

Since 2017, Buckets of Love has donated 101 buckets filled with items specifically for children between the ages of 2 and 12.

"Giving is more than just a donation, it's helping others," the younger Garnsey sister said. "We wanted to continue giving back."

The other state/national winner honored was The Charter School of Wilmington's Student Government Organization as the LEAD360 Activation Winner. The organization produced more than 10,000 Emma's Arts Kits over the past year, which will be distributed to 14 local charities across Delaware. 

To achieve this, members collected $5 from each homecoming ticket and raised $4,600 to purchase art supplies. They also enlisted support from the entire school, including 975 students, faculty, and administrators in making the personalized note cards for each kit.

2018 Jefferson Awards winners

Outstanding Service:

  • In a High School: Students in Action Committee of Sussex Technical High School
  • Employee in the Workplace: Patricia Miller, PA-C, Christiana Care Health System; and Darrin Johnson, United Healthcare
  • Benefiting the Local Communities (sponsored by The News Journal): Judy Travis, Stockings for Soldiers
  • National or Global Service by a Young American: Domenica (Minnie) Proud, Charter School of Wilmington
  • By a Company: Schell Brothers
  • By an Entrepreneur: Harry Keswani, Harry K Foundation’s Help Harry Halt Hunger
  • Youth Service in the LEAD360 Challenge: Enzo Vincent, Enzo’s Pajama Drive for Hope
  • In the Lead360 Challenge Activation: Emma’s Art Kits, Student Government Organization, Charter School of Wilmington; Buccini Pollin Group; first- and second-graders at Middletown-Odessa-Townsend Charter Elementary
  • United Healthcare LEAD360 Challenge Health & Wellness Awards: UDance, University of Delaware students; Charterthon, Jefferson Council of the Charter School of Wilmington

To learn more about the Jefferson Awards Foundation, visit: JeffersonAwards.org or follow the organization on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Facebook.

Reach Jerry Smith at jsmith17@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JerrySmithTNJ.

 

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