The Fred Hollows Foundation is calling for nominations for the Fred Hollows Humanity Award, which recognises Year 6 students who demonstrate compassion, integrity and kindness towards others. Parents, teachers, principals and community members around the country can nominate a child in Year 6 who has made a difference at www.hollows.org/fredhollowshumanityaward before 11.59pm, Friday 11 September.
One Junior Ambassador from each state and territory will be selected.
Honouring children for their kindness, compassion and integrity is more relevant than ever in 2020, which has underscored the importance of these values.
“Fred used to say the basic attribute of mankind is to look after each other,” said Gabi Hollows, Founding Director of The Fred Hollows Foundation.
“He would be so proud to know the Fred Hollows Humanity Award is recognising students who are demonstrating this belief in their own lives.
“To see students honouring these words by showing compassion, kindness and integrity during such a challenging year is incredibly inspiring.
“I urge people to nominate a Year 6 student for the Humanity Award and together we can continue to help spread compassion and kindness during this trying time.”
One student recognised at last year’s ceremony was Concordia Lutheran College student, Bella Edwards, who was nominated for her altruistic, caring and compassionate nature.
“Bella has a beautiful heart and always thinks of others,” Principal Juanetta Priest, said.
“In 2019 she conceived an idea to make over 300 ANZAC biscuits with her classmates to say thank you to our veterans.”
“Bella also personally wrote handwritten letters to accompany each batch of cookies. She insisted that they were handwritten so that the veterans knew how much the students cared.”
All nominees will receive a certificate and be recognised at a virtual presentation ceremony later in the year.
A Junior Ambassador from Queensland will be recognised and will be able to extend their humanity by allocating $5,000, donated by the award’s charity partner Specsavers, to one of The Foundation’s programs to end avoidable blindness.
Since 2012, the Fred Hollows Humanity Award has recognised more than 1,500 students who follow in Fred’s footsteps by making a positive difference in the lives of others.