Staten Island Children's Museum Now Accepting Nominations for Kid of Achievement Award

Do you know a Kid of Achievement? Now in its 26th year, the Staten Island Children's Museum's Circle of Friends Luncheon is the Museum's way of expressing appreciation to the non-profit and business communities by recognizing people and organizations that have significantly contributed to the lives of Staten Island's children.

The honorees include a Kid of Achievement, and we value the public's input in selecting the winner. Children and teens up to age 17 who are involved in volunteerism, overcoming obstacles and challenges to help others, and who display leadership qualities are what the Kid of Achievement award is all about.

Last year's honorees were the St. Clare School Transformers. A local robotics team that has been winning national and local robotics competitions, learning technology and volunteering through the community to brainstorm and provide real solutions to real problems. The team adopted Jack's Pond in the SI Bluebelt and spent countless hours designing a system to aerate the pond when they realized oxygen levels were dropping. Together, they designed a local baseball field for children with special needs and they are always an enthusiastic, professional and exciting addition to the Museum's annual Carnival & Science Spectacular.

The previous honorees include:

Siena Marie Rampulla of Holmdel High School, a young anti-smoking activist who created clever, educational, and well produced YouTube videos to spread the message to teens that starting smoking is a poor decision; Julia Marie D'Alessio, of St. Joseph Hill Academy, who was a volunteer for SI Project Homefront who spent summer breaks sorting packing and shipping items to our troops; and Meghan Ortega, who lives with Cowden's Syndrome, a genetic disorder, which makes most physical activity difficult, and has become a primary advocate for people with Cowden's and other rare diseases and who helped to establish World Rare Disease Day, dedicated to awareness and education and observed on February 28th of each year.

After committee review, the final selection will be presented at the Staten Island Children's Museum annual Circle of Friends luncheon on November 15, 2017 at the Hilton Garden Inn. The public is invited to send their recommendations to the museum no later than Monday, October 23rd.Please include the nominee's name, and a brief description of their accomplishments. Entries can be sent by mail: Attn: Kid of Achievement, Staten Island Children's Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island NY 10301, or via email to: grotondo@sichildrensmuseum.org.

The Staten Island Children's Museum is located on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 am to 5 pm during the school year; 10 am to 5 pm weekends, summers and most public school holidays. For more information call 718-273-2060, emailinfo@sichildrensmuseum.org, or visit our website,www.sichildrensmuseum.org.

The Staten Island Children's Museum is housed in a building owned by the City of New York and its operation is supported, in part, by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the NYC Council. Significant operating support is also provided by the NYS Council on the Arts, Corporations, Foundations, the Trustees and Members