We go out a lot and attend literally dozens of events each month. The Annual Do Something Award ceremony was truly one of our favorites….and we won’t ever miss a future one. Aside from being held at such an iconic location- the Apollo Theater in Harlem- and being filled with true legends from the world of music and entertainment including our dear friend Russell Simmons- the stars of the evening were truly the winners of the fabulous Do Something awards.
Do Something believes youth have the power to make a difference. It is their aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of doers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. At DoSomething.org they provide the tools and resources for youth to convert their ideas and energy into positive action.
The award ceremony featured five amazing people that truly took the world by storm and made a difference. There was not a dry eye in the storied Apollo Theater as each of these amazing people- Darius Weems, Maggie Doyne, Marvelyn Brown, David Burstein and Eric Glustrom all told their unbelievable stories. The grand prize winner- Maggie Doyne won $100,000 for her efforts- and she is all of 22 years of age. (Yes, no typo here- she is only 22! ) Maggie took off after high school to see the world and when she was trekking through the Himalayas, she stumbled upon hundreds of kids living in the streets, orphaned by years of human rights violations and war. Maggie knew she could stay and make a difference in these childrens’ lives, granting them the rights that every child around the world should have. She built and now runs Kopila Valley Children’s Home in Nepal, housing these innocent victims and saving them from lives of instability and hunger.
Through her work, Maggie has given shelter to 24 kids, sent 60 others to school, and assisted in the placement of over 700 orphans in the region. She has tackled human rights issues in the region, improving the lives of children affected by violence, child labor, sex trafficking, and poverty. Did you catch that Maggie is only 22? It is truly inspiring to hear such a story of someone who has done so much, so effectively and at such a young age.
We encourage everyone to check out the amazing stories of these five finalists on www.dosomething.org and feel good about our future as a result. I felt motivated after attending the award ceremonies as so much seems to have been accomplished based on visions being implemented by truly amazing leaders of our next generation.