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Each year, since 2005, The Children’s Museum has recognized youth who've created projects that have significantly impacted their communities. The awards were inspired by the museum’s inspiring permanent exhibit, The Power of Children: Making a Difference, which features three extraordinary children who touched the world in unique ways: Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Ryan White. In 2014, we celebrated ten years of the Power of Children Awards by highlighting 50 extraordinary youth who've made a difference through their unique projects.
We're excited to announce this year's five Power of Children Award winners and share their extraordinary projects! Today’s winner helps fights hunger in his community by creating fun events designed to raise awareness and money for meals.
Will Lourcey
- Grade 6 (2014-2015 school year)
- Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
- Project: FROGs: Friends Reaching Our Goals
A man on a street holding a sign that read “NEED A MEAL” was all seven-year-old Will Lourcey needed to begin his journey of service to others. Will leapt into action to form FROGs: Friends Reaching Our Goals. This team fights hunger in its community by creating fun events designed to raise awareness and money for meals. Will cites “Hits and Kicks Against Hunger" as an example. Students recruited sponsors to pay $1 for every hit or goal scored in youth baseball, softball, or soccer games— resulting in thousands of meals for the hungry.
Through hosting fun events that raise hunger awareness, Will has also raised enough money to provide over 175,000 meals for families and 50,000 backpacks filled with food for hungry children. He has engaged over 2,000 volunteers to help. “We are inspiring kids to recognize they have power: No matter how tall or small you are…YOU can make a BIG difference!” said Will.
The Power of Children Award money Will receives will be used to provide more nutritious meals to children through organizations such as Boys & Girls Club branches in Fort Worth.
