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Every year since 2005, The Children’s Museum has recognized incredible youth who have impacted their communities with extraordinary service. The Power of Children Awards, inspired by the Power of Children: Making a Difference exhibit, awards these winners with a partial university scholarship to IUPUI, UIndy, or Butler University along with a $2,000 grant to continue their philanthropic projects.
We’re highlighting each winner with a further look into the service projects they’ve built to transform their community. Today’s winner is Bradley Ferguson, who started a service-learning club that honors veterans, addresses food security, and combats poverty.
- Bradley Ferguson
- Grade: 11
- Hometown: Northfield, New Jersey
- Project: Post Crashers
Bradley Ferguson lives in Atlantic County in New Jersey, which is an area that leads the nation in job losses and foreclosures. Bradley had been aware of his county’s poverty; witnessing classmates go hungry, and homeless people on the streets. After being witness to a veteran’s suicide two blocks from his home, it was then that Bradley had had enough of sitting back. He needed to create change.
Bradley created the “Post Crashers” program. His program solicits volunteers and uses donations and grants to create meals to nourish people in his community, refurbish his local veteran’s post, and educate on sustainable agriculture.
Bradley and an army of student and parent volunteers have amassed over $126,000 in grants to refurbish Harvey D. Johnson American Legion Post 295—making it a thriving community center. Furthermore, in the three years as head of the program, Bradley has grown thousands of pounds of food to use in meal-making for the struggling people in his community.
Bradley’s teacher and Post Crashers advisor, Mr. Doherty, say about Bradley,
“Bradley brings our community together to serve and help others...It’s amazing what one student, with the great support of his teachers, principal, and peers, has done for this suffering county. Whether Brad is volunteering himself, teaching others about resolutions to hunger issues, or making efforts to gain support for our organization’s efforts, he relentlessly presses on helping others have the essentials of life: food and shelter.”
Today, Post Crashers is well into its third year. Bradley is in the process of setting up a food bank for his school for students in need. He states, “My goal is to improve the lives of our community by providing fresh produce to those in need, and making the Post a place that distributes information on available services to homeless and insecure veterans.”
Bradley will use his Power of Children Award money to grow the garden and distribute food to 10,000 households.
