Crofton Middle School Student Receives Elite National Honor

CROFTON, MD – Eighth grader Caleb Oh, a student at Crofton Middle School, ran into a roadblock when trying to find volunteer opportunities. It turned out that he was considered too young to help out at most places. Not one to be discouraged easily, the 14-year-old from Gambrills took matters into his own hands and, as a very young boy, launched “Kid Changemakers,” a group open to younger volunteers seeking to make a difference.

The fact that Caleb started a group and recruited other youngsters to assist others isn’t the only impressive part. According to Prudential, for most of his life, Caleb has suffered from debilitating migraine headaches that sometimes prevent him from attending school and enjoying activities. One day while battling a migraine at home, he was lying in bed reading primatologist Jane Goodall’s biography and felt motivated to “follow in her inspirational footsteps” to make an impact in the world. It wasn’t easy.

“I could not find my place,” Caleb said in a story shared by Prudential. “There was a fixed mindset that kids could not help. Most places require you to be at least 18 to volunteer.”

Through his organization, Caleb began recruiting other youth from his neighborhood and together they assembled bagged lunches for a local homeless shelter. The group of kids also spearheaded food and toiletry drives in partnership with local shelters, schools and churches.

So far, Caleb as logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours. He clips food coupons for military families living abroad, and fills backpacks with essential items for children who are suddenly pulled from their homes and placed into the foster care system. After Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on parts of Houston, Caleb made public service announcements and coordinated the collection of food, toiletries and school supplies for hard-hit families.

In addition, he won a grant that enabled him to pay off school lunch loans so students would not be denied food. Caleb estimates that he has collected more than $60,000 in cash, grants and in-kind donations to benefit others since he started volunteering.

For all that Caleb has done in the past several years to help others, he recently was awarded The Prudential Spirit of Community award, one of only 10 youths nationwide to be bestowed with such an honor for 2019. Caleb was honored during the program's 24th annual national award ceremony at Union Station's East Hall. He also was recognized as one of two finalists out of more than 100 applicants from Maryland during a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

Selected from a field of more than 29,000 youth volunteers from across the country, Caleb has earned the title of National Honoree, along with a personal award of $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for his school, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of his choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a national youth recognition program sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

"We're impressed and inspired by the way these honorees have identified problems facing their communities and stepped up to the challenge to make a difference," said Charles Lowrey, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc., in a statement. "It's a privilege to celebrate their leadership and compassion, and we look forward to seeing the great things they accomplish in the future."

Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin met with Caleb after the awards ceremony and expressed his gratitude for the boy’s initiative.

Cardin shared on Facebook how impressed he was of Caleb’s drive and willingness to help others. Cardin praised Caleb for making a difference and encouraged others to replicate his efforts in their own neighborhood.

“Anyone who does not think this country is great needs to meet more kids like Caleb. His track record of service is impressively long -- and still growing! Keep up the great work,” he posted.