His actions show that young Americans can--and do--play important roles in our communities, and that America's community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future.

Ben should be extremely proud to have been singled out from such a large group of dedicated volunteers.

In light of numerous statistics that indicate Americans today are less involved in their communities than they once were, I believe it's vital that we encourage and support the kind of selfless contribution this young citizen has made.

Young volunteers like Ben are inspiring examples to all of us, and are among our brightest hope for a better tomorrow.