LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Brianna Cart upon the occasion of her
designation as a State Honoree in the 15th Annual Prudential Spirit of
Community Awards program

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to act, in accord with
its long-standing traditions, honoring the youth of today, and leaders
of tomorrow, whose character and achievements exemplify the ideals and
values cherished by this great State and nation; and
WHEREAS, Brianna Cart has distinguished herself as a young woman of
superlative ability, establishing a high standard of community service,
purposefulness of life, and sense of responsibility rarely achieved in
youthful years; and
WHEREAS, Brianna Cart, age 14, of Owego, New York, and a home-schooled
eighth-grader, has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer
service by being named a 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community State Hono-
ree; she was nominated for this high honor by The Tioga County 4-H; and
WHEREAS, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, created in 1995 by
Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of
Secondary School Principals (NASSP), are designed to emphasize the
importance our nation places on service to others, and to encourage all
young Americans to contribute to their communities; and
WHEREAS, As one of only two New York State Honorees, Brianna Cart
received a monetary award, an engraved silver medallion, and a trip to
Washington, D.C., May1-4, 2010, for a series of national recognition
events; and
WHEREAS, Brianna Cart started a volunteer effort four years ago that
has shipped more than 300 boxes of snacks, toiletries, and other items,
worth more than $25,000, to 345 American soldiers serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, It began when Brianna overheard one of her mother's hair
salon clients talking about mailing packages to soldiers and asked her
mother if she could do that; she and her mother found a serviceman on a
website, purchased some items, wrote a letter, and sent a package to
him; and
WHEREAS, When Brianna heard how grateful he was, she began to realize
how important it was to our soldiers to hear from people at home, she
shipped enough supplies for all of the men in the soldier's platoon, and
wanted to do even more; and
WHEREAS, She formed a club of young volunteers called "Angels Over
Iraq and Afghanistan" and began raising money for her shipments by host-
ing donation drives, teen concerts, car washes, and yard sales; and
WHEREAS, Brianna now spends an average of 20 hours a week fund-rais-
ing, shopping, and packing and mailing boxes, and has a core group of 19
young people and close to 45 local organizations helping her on a regu-
lar basis; and
WHEREAS, She has learned from the thank you letters how much the
soldiers miss their homes and families and is grateful to be part of a
group that tries to show how much they appreciate the soldiers' efforts;
and
WHEREAS, The success of the State of New York, the strength of our
communities, and the vitality of American society depend, in great meas-
ure, upon the dedication of young people like Brianna Cart who use their
considerable talents and resources to serve others; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to honor Brianna Cart commend-
ing her for her outstanding record of volunteer service, peer leadership
and community service and recognizing the value of her labors and the
promise of her future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations with
praise and pride to commend Brianna Cart for her achievements and to
extend to her the best wishes of this Legislative Body for a future of
purposeful success and well-being, fully confident of her response to
the challenges of a promising future and appreciative of the model she
represents for all young people of the Empire State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Brianna Cart.