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Neha Gupta, age 13, of Yardley PA has been named a Distinguished Finalist by the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The Barron Prize honors outstanding young leaders who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Neha is one of the five students across the U.S. chosen for this honor, out of a pool of nearly 400 applicants. She will receive $500 to be applied to her higher education or service work.
Neha founded a non-profit organization called Empower Orphans (empowerorphans.org) to help orphaned children in India to become self-sufficient. She started her project after volunteering at several orphanages in India during summer trips to visit her grandparents. She has raised $33,000 to fund two libraries and to provide 1,000 children with food, clothing and dental help. The monies also provide annual scholarships for ten children each year, fully funding their education. Neha raises funds by making and selling decorative wine glass charms and greeting cards. Knowing the importance of providing the children with vocational skills, Neha has already sent sewing machines for older girls and has plans to fund a computer center and technical school, as well. "Even though I am just one person, I have power." says Neha, "I have the power to make a difference in the world".
The Barron Prize was founded in 2001 by author T.A. Barron and was named for his mother, Gloria Barron. Each year, the Barron Prize selects ten winners and five Distinguished Finalists nationwide. Half of the honorees have focused on helping their communities and fellow human beings; half have focused on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment.
"Nothing is more inspiring than stories about heroic people who have truly made a difference to the world," says Barron. "And we need our heroes today more than ever. Not celebrities, but heroes - people whose character can inspire us all. That is the purpose of the Gloria Barron Prize; to share positive examples of heroism with as many young people as possible".
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