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- 1. Casady kid organizes local Walk the World Did you know it takes only $34.00 to feed a child at school for a whole year in a developing country? Oklahomans can help eliminate global hunger by participating in Walk the World Oklahoma City on Sunday at Lake Hefuer. The 5K walk is one of more than 250 Walk the World events planned in 80 countries that day. Walk the World Oklahoma City is organized by 15-year- old Leann Farha, a student at Casady School. "I can't even imagine what it feels like to starve. While doing this project I have learned how fortunate I am. These children have no say into what life they are born. It is so unreal to me that there are children out there whose main concern in life is find- ing enough to eat in order to survive. This project is my chance to make a difference and in doing so, grow as a person by broadening my horizons," she said. Walk the World Oklahoma City aims to help the efforts ofthe United Nations to have a hunger-free world by the year 2015. This walk is Farha's way of "doing some- thing" to heal a world need. Walk the World is an inter- Walk to raise awm:eness ofhunger, malnutrition national event that supports the World Food Programme (WFP), which last year fed over 80 million ofthe world's hungriest people. Walk the World Oklahoma City will begin at 100 a.m. at Stars and Stripes Park, Lake Hefuer South Trails. Walkers will congregate at the Bert Cooper Loop, north of intersection of Portland and South Lakeshore Drive. Parking available at the west side ofthe softball field. For Walk The World Okla- homa City registration visit www.fighthunger.org. Freet- shirts will be given to the first 50 registered walkers. By Susan Parrott, Staff Writer Leann Farha hopes to raise awareness ofglobal hunger_ one step at a tim It's the first time Farha has taken a leadershtp role in helping others .d director of the c'aS:y Youth Advisory Council. Thts year, Farha organized a campaign to .make, 350 Day cards for . The 1?-rear-old Casady School ts. organtzmg Walk the World Oklahoma a 5-K for 10 a.m. Sunday at tars and Stripes Park at Lake Hefner The event is one of 250 Walk .the World events planned in 80 countrie thatday. s fi 1fhaalnsaid wants to raise money to g m utrition and hunger at home and abroad. Walkers are invited to do- to the World Food Programme whtch last year fed more than 80 'IIi ' .. ?Jle international Walk the tmtiated two years ago by TNT mail and logistics company. ' a Farha said she was amazed to learn thdat only ?34 will feed a child at school in a ..evelopmg country for a year. such a different world for me," she sru . 'We are so fortunate here." Children patients and taught cultural diverstty to Boys and Girls Clubs Casady students are encouraged to !late of community service dur- mg thetr htgh school years "It them purpose meaning " th Clay thsrud. "!J1ey gain a heck of a lot mo;e an eygtve." Farha, who will be a sophomore in the fall,_ says she hopes to hold Walk th W?rid City every year. · e 'You re JUSt one person making a dif- ference," she said. Walk the Oklahoma City will place rrun or shine, she said The ftrst 50 people to at wwwh..fighthunger.org will get free T- s irts. BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN Leann Farha, right, and Megan Swisher make for the Walk the World Ok- lahoma City, a 5-K event planned Sunday at Lake Hefner. Farha, a 15-year-old stu- dent at School, organized the event to raise awareness of global hun- ger. .
- 2. ,.,. .. Oklahoma City FRIDAY, Friday, Ma)' 30, 2008, • 2008 Graduation • Page C-17 2008 FRIDAY All-Star Leadership Team: Casady LEANN FARHA Parents: Clay and Jamie Farha College: undecided Career objective: Business Leader Roles: Walk the Wo!Jd President and Coordinator, Infant Crisis Services Teen Advisory Board, Discipline Committee Delegate, Youth Leadership Exchange Awards: Presidential Volunteer Service Awards, Spirit of Community Award, Youth Fundraising Award nominee, MICHAEL MASSAD Parents: Dr. Paul and Nena Massad College: OU Career objective: Business Leader Roles: Student Council • President, Club President, Regional Church Youth Group President Awards: Silver Presidential Service Learning Award for 245 hours of service learning • SAMMOORE Parents: Jilll Moore and Cheryl fterling Colleve: undecided Career objective: Medicine Leader Roles: Student Council, National Federation of Temple Youth, Varsity Basketball and Baseball Team Captain Awards: National Merit Finalist, Cum Laude Society, Vanderbilt Award, Princeton Club Award, Yale Club Award, ANKITA PRASAD Parents: Niraj and Annradha Prasad SHIVAN SHETTY Parents: Dr. Satheesh and Shekuntala Shetty College: University of College: University of Missouri California - Berkeley Career objective: Pre-Med Leader Roles: Yearbook Editor, Hunger Awarenes$ Week Leader, Founder of Sign Language Club Awards: AP Scholar with Distinction, Cum Society, President's Gold Service Award, Richard A Career objective: Medicine Leader Roles: Secretary of the Student Council, President of the Chinese Club Awards: National Spanish Exam Spanish II and Ill Distinction, Varsity Letter in Cross Country and Tennis
- 3. Casady students walk to fight world hunger EVERY FIVE seconds a child dies from hunger," reported Casady junior Leann Farha at the 3rd Annual OKC Walk the World. Oklahomans united against hunger by gathering at the state capital and walk- ing. The walk was a way to raise awareness ofchild hunger. With a simple walk, people had an opportunity to make a difference. Some carried signs with facts and others pushed strollers. Farha began this event as a freshman at Casady. She was the first youth in the whole world to establish a -- Casady Courier by Walk the World event. Walk the World is an international event sponsored by the United Nations World Food Program with the goal oferadicating child hunger worldwide by 2015. Leann's efforts encour- aged other young leaders to start walks in their home towns, as well. She was pas- 0 sionate about the topic of child hunger and felt that kids can relate to other kids. Under her leadership, this event went from being local to global. "I thought it was cool that it (the walk) was an interna- tional event. We were able to give children a second chance at life," she said. Many Casady students participated in raising aware- ness and making a change. The Casady Youth Advisory Council (YAC) helped raise money for child hunger by selling Dippin' Dots to the students. Another day, students j were encouraged to drop by Maggie Moo's located on Pennsylvania Avenue and be . served ice cream by celebrity scoopers - their peers and teachers. The event collected 20 percent ofthe profits made for the cause. Junior Taylor Mills creat- ed a video ofthe students at Maggie Moo's and at the "' t> previous walks and present- r ed it in chapel one morning. . ' .Overall, $11,000 dollars ,1 was raised by Farha and the Casady Walk the World Team to fight child hunger. The money will go to school feeding programs and The Food for Kids Program. 1_ --1 ;.r..#• • "'
- 4. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Congratulations on receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. Through service to others, you demonstrate the outstanding character of America and help strengthen our country. In January 2002, I called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years- or 4,000 hours- over the course of their lives to serve others at home or abroad. I congratulate you and all Americans who have answered this call and have earned a Gold Award from the President's Council. Americans of all ages can serve others in countless ways, such as mentoring a child, caring for an elderly neighbor, teaching someone to read, cleaning parks, and creating safer neighborhoods. My Administration encourages every American to help their communities and our country. Through the USA Freedom Corps and the President's Council, we are building a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility in America that will last for decades to come. Americans continue to serve and are part of the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency that are changing America, one heart and one soul at a time. Your actions are part of this change. I urge you to continue serving your neighbors and earn the Lifetime Call to Service Award. I also hope that you will ask your friends, family, and colleagues to join you in serving your community and our Nation. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America. Sincerely,
- 5. THE PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS HONOR ING OUTSTAND ING COMMUNITY SERVICE BY YOUNG AMERICANS February 9, 2007 Mr. Joseph Cernick Casady School 9500 N Pennsylvania Oklahoma City, OK 73120 Dear Mr. Cernick, The state-level judges for The 2007 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have completed their work. Unfortunately, your honoree, Leann Farha, was not selected for one of our state-level honors this year. However, based on the number of volunteer hours indicated on your honoree's application, Leann has qualified for the President's Volunteer Service Award! This award recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country. Through a partnership with the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, we are proud to be able to present this prestigious award to Prudential Spirit of Community honorees who have met its requirements. Please deliver the enclosed notification letter to your honoree as soon as possible. Also enclosed you will find a President's Volunteer Service Award certificate and a letter from President Bush. Please present these to your honoree at an appropriate time and place, and use this opportunity to recognize Leann as a role model for other young people. We also are sending you sample language for a news release that can be used to notify your local media of this honor, and suggested ways for you to recognize your honoree. Thank you for participating in The 2007 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, and for helping us convey the message that volunteer service by young Americans is important, valued and rewarding. We hope you will decide to participate again next year when information on the 2008 awards program arrives next September. Sincerely, Arthur F. Ryan Chairman and CEO Prudential Financial Gerald N. Tirozzi Executive Director National Association of Secondary School Principals 751 Broad Street 16th Floor Newark, NJ 07102 (973) 802-4568 Fax (973) 802-4718 spirit@prudential.com www.prudential.com/spirit
- 6. !i!re.fe!Zied tk /t 3/Ptee ad§tvtc !ZbmcycattiJ;z tt? LEANN FARHA t/z adtfft7eaaftb;z m/lV/Zt!meJZttt? t7Y___.?VtZttiJ;z adfo wktee/tJe/Ptce. An initiative of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation in conjunction with NATIONAL& usAa aCOMMUNITY Freedom Corps SERVICEt:fXX: Make a Difference. Volunteer.