Marrow Donor, 9, Wins Courage Award Spokane Girl Is Youngest Recipient Of Chase Youth Award
A 9-year-old Spokane girl who donated bone marrow to a brother with leukemia received the 1995 Chase Youth Award for Courage Tuesday night.
Monica Elizondo was the youngest award winner at the annual ceremony spotlighting children and teenagers for outstanding achievements.
“She had something he could not live without - healthy bone marrow,” said Steve Mumm, who introduced winners of nine awards at the Opera House.
Thanks in part to Monica’s bone marrow, Lukas Elizondo’s leukemia is in remission, said the children’s aunt, Sharon O’Brien.
“She just never really complained,” said O’Brien. “She was a real trooper.”
The winners, selected from several hundred nominees, received medals from Mayor Jack Geraghty and $100 savings bonds from Washington Trust Bank.
The Spirit of Jim Chase Award went to the North Central High School student body, which racked up more than 9,000 hours in community service work in December and January.
“Truly, these are kids who made commitments and followed through on them,” said Mumm.
Other winners were:
Erin Rice, 15, a Shadle Park High School student. Rice received the Citizenship Award for helping develop a crisis hotline for Shadle Park teenagers.
Donald Brown, an 18-year-old student at Liberty High School in Spangle. Brown, who received the Entrepreneurship Award, runs two businesses - repairing electronic equipment and reselling liquidated items.
Sarah Bryant, 18, a Lewis and Clark senior. Bryant received the Leadership Award for her involvements including the school’s Racial and Cultural Equality group, the Rotary Leadership Program and the school’s co-op program.
Gavin Doree, an 18-year-old student at Gonzaga Prep. The student body president received the Community Service Award. As a sophomore, Doree was the youngest person to ever volunteer at Holy Family Hospital’s emergency room.
Amanda Fluaitt, 18, a Rogers High School student. Fluaitt, a musician and dramatist who serves on the school’s High Drama Board, received the Creativity Award.
Semra Keller, an 18-year-old student at Deer Park High School. Under Keller’s leadership, the school’s environmental club has started paper recycling programs in all district elementary schools. Keller received the Environmental Concern Award.
Jason Saldo, 14, a Northwood Junior High School student. Saldo, who was born with a severe cleft lip and later diagnosed with multiple learning disorders, received the Personal Achievement Award.
Saldo, a Boy Scout, spends spare time at the Hawthorne Manor Retirement Community, calling Bingo numbers and reading to residents.