Hello, my name is Ali Painter and I’m twelve years old. My Grandma Ruth Stanton is 94 years old and has volunteered in her community and for this nation all her life. Throughout our generations my family has served America through volunteerism and living purposeful lives. To honor her lifetime dedication and service I am offering a $500.00 grant to the person, family, or organization who most reflects Grandma Ruth’s dedication and life long service. 

Meet Grandma Ruth Stanton

Grandma Ruth has always been a dedicated volunteer who wasn’t afraid of hard work. She is a faithful and kind team player who helped anyone in need and has always put others’ needs above herself. During her life she has volunteered and supported agencies like Habitat For Humanity, Goodwill, and the Red Cross. She has also supported homeless shelters, worked as a drug and alcohol counselor, and donated to various organizations feeding the hungry. She has ministered to the sick at the hospitals and has given financially to those in need.. She has taken in troubled teens and families that needed temporary housing and raised three foster children. For over 80 years she has supported various missionaries through financial support, making quilts, and sending educational supplies. She never misses church and is a prayer warrior for those having problems. My Grandmother taught us all to live purposeful lives and hopefully her example will inspire others to live an accomplished goal driven life so generations will continue to help America stay strong.

How did the Ruth Stanton $500.00 Community Grant Start?

Last Christmas we were doing some last minute shopping in Oroville, California where my Grandparents live. We saw an advertisement asking for food donations and we went inside the store to find out more. There we met an amazing volunteer who inspired us. We stopped our Christmas shopping and went coupon shopping instead (see photo). We told Grandma Ruth of this woman’s compassion toward the less fortunate and commitment to volunteerism. The idea of the Ruth Stanton Community Grant was born.

Later we received a thank-you card with a $20.00 gift certificate for candy. I asked my Grandma to meet this amazing woman and to see if she fit the ideals that Grandma Ruth believes in and if she should be our winner. Both Grandmas were in agreement when they met this kind and generous lady. She is indeed deserving of this honor and will be presented the Ruth Stanton Community Grant of $500.00 on March 9, 2008.

The 2007 Ruth Stanton Community Grant Winner

We are proud to announce the 2007 winner of the Ruth Stanton Community Grant- Matthew Renzulli from Wayne Hills, NJ. Matthew was born into a family dedicated to volunteer service. His mother was one of ten children who learned to care for the needs of others including her handicapped sister. Matthew began volunteering at eight years old with the church and the community. His family volunteered for Habitat For Humanity, Special Olympics, food banks, soup kitchens, and at the County Developmental Center, visiting shut-ins. He has been an Altar Server for nine years and a Antioch Retreat Leader for the last four years. For the last two years he has been a Eucharistic minister and has dedicated every weekend for the last two years to this volunteer work. 

Matthew started a project where the community can drop off socks in various locations for the homeless. To date, he has collected over 24,000 socks for the homeless who come to Eva’s Village, another place where he volunteers. At fourteen years old he was asked to help the school children in the Caribbean Island of Tobago. He and other volunteers donated  20 lap top computers, a school Science lab and over 1000 books for the school library. For the last four summers he has spent 14 days in Tobago being a volunteer teacher’s assistant. This past summer they donated and built 2 new school playgrounds. Currently he volunteers at the battered woman shelter and family shelter. 

He is Chairperson and organizing  a fund raising effort for Eva's Village through his school’s National Honor Society. Matthew is well respected by his teachers, administration and peers. He has been Class President for the last four years, has served on the Student Council, has been a school Peer counselor and Freshman mentor, and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is also Editor -in -Chief of his school yearbook and founder of the Pay IT Forward Club in his high school. 

As far as awards, Matthew has earned the President’s Call To Service Award for  dedicating at least  4,000 hours of volunteer service, the Gold  President’s Volunteer Service Award,  the Bank Of America Student Leader Excellence Award, the Prudential Spirit Of the Community Award, the High School and District Award, the New Jersey Boys State Delegate Award, the Unico Service Above Self Humanitarian Award, Eva’s Village, Where Hope Begins Award, the Kohl's Kids Who Care Award, and the Creative Living Counseling Center Humanitarian Award. 

He is a semi-finalist in the Coca Cola Scholars Scholarship and received his high school's Principals Award. Congratulations to Matthew for his lifetime of community service and thank you for all you do for humanity.

Be sure to view our Photo Gallery for winners photos and more!