Scottsburg High School junior Madelyn Shelton received the 2018 Scott County Youth Grantmaking Council (?YGC?) Helping Hand Award. She is shown with YGC member Elle Fleenor. Madelyn volunteers countless hours through the Scott County Partnership?s programs, to include bell ringing, helping with childcare and youth every Thursday night at Conquer the Chaos, fundraising events and much more.? She helped get SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) reinstated at the high school and helped to start a county-wide youth-led coalition called EMPOWER. She has managed the football team for three years, and has many other activities too numerous to mention. In fact, her total volunteer service over the past five years has totaled over 700 hours!! Madelyn was honored at the YGC?s annual dinner, where she received a certificate and $100 for her efforts.

Scottsburg Elementary School third grader Elijah Everage received the 2018 Junior Helping Hand Award. He is also shown with Elle Fleenor. Eli does many community activities on his own, but he is especially passionate about helping the We Care auction. Not only does he donate his allowance, but he has encouraged classmates, neighbors and family to donate. He does the 365-day penny challenge, where he started with one penny on the first day and adds an additional penny each day. At the end of the year he will have $700 for We Care! Eli was honored at the YGC?s annual dinner, where he received a certificate and $75 for his efforts, as well as a young philanthropist kit.

This is the fifth year the YGC has awarded the Helping Hand Award to honor youth who have set themselves apart from others by working to make Scott County a better place.