LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring 13-year-old Charlotte McKane of Oneonta,
New York, upon the occasion of her designation as a recipient of the
2009 Prudential Spirit of Community Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those young people within the great Empire State who have
made strong contributions to their communities and who serve as role
models for their peers; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
13-year-old Charlotte McKane of Oneonta, New York, upon the occasion of
her designation as a recipient of the 2009 Prudential Spirit of Communi-
ty Award; and
WHEREAS, As a state honoree, Charlotte McKane will receive a monetary
award, an engraved silver medallion, and a trip to Washington, D.C., on
May 2-5, 2009, for a series of national recognition events; and
WHEREAS, An extraordinary honor, the Prudential Spirit of Community
Award considered nearly 20,000 young people across the country for
state-level recognition in this year's program; and
WHEREAS, This prestigious award was created in 1995 by Prudential
Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary
School Principals (NASSP), and it is designed to emphasize the impor-
tance our nation places on service to others, and to encourage all young
Americans to contribute to their communities; and
WHEREAS, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represent the
United States' largest youth recognition program based solely on volun-
teer service; the program is part of a broad youth-service initiative by
Prudential that includes a youth leadership training program adminis-
tered by the Points of Light Institute; and
WHEREAS, Charlotte McKane, an eighth-grader at Oneonta Middle School,
built a network of monthly donors that has enabled her to purchase a
significant amount of needed supplies for organizations serving the
disadvantaged in her community; her project, called "Charlotte's
Circle," began at age five, when she and her grandfather spent time
together wrapping coins and then, at her father's suggestion, used the
money to buy hygiene items and cleaning supplies for people served by
the Family Service Association in Oneonta; and
WHEREAS, Intrigued by the idea of helping others, Charlotte McKane
started setting aside part of her allowance and writing letters and
making presentations to find additional donors; every month she contacts
charitable organizations such as the Violence Intervention Program Safe
House and Catholic Charities Low Income Housing Program to ascertain
their needs; and
WHEREAS, Charlotte McKane then shops for the items, often persuading
store managers to donate or discount their merchandise; after making her
deliveries, she sends a detailed report to all of her donors documenting
her purchases; more than 70 individuals and organizations have supported
Charlotte's Circle since 2003; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to society possessing a sense of civic duty and
commitment to others, Charlotte McKane represents the best development
of the potential which is inherent in our most precious resource, our
youth; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor 13-year-old Charlotte McKane of Oneonta, New York, upon the occa-
sion of her designation as a recipient of the 2009 Prudential Spirit of
Community Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Charlotte McKane.