Nominations being accepted for first-ever community service award for Charleston area kids

Nominations are currently being accepted for the first-ever “Wonderific Community Service Award,” created to shine a light on children who are making a difference in the Charleston community through volunteerism, fundraising and community service.

Online nominations are being accepted at http://www.cydc.org/wonderificaward. The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14.

The children’s award – sponsored by Wonder Works - has been added to honors presented during Charleston Philanthropy Week, Nov. 12-18.

Christine Osborne, owner of Wonder Works, said that the award has been a “dream of mine for a long time … to acknowledge these amazing, wonderful kids that have such a beautiful spirit and give so much.”

The Nomination Criteria is as follows:

1. The community service must have taken place October 1, 2011 – September 30, 2012.

2. The Child must be 18 years old or younger at time of service.

3. The nominator must present a clear demonstration of how a child initiated and followed through in community service – fundraising and/or volunteerism in any of the following areas: school, organization, church, neighborhood or club in 250 words or less.

4. Child must currently reside in the Charleston, SC Tri-County area of Charleston, Berkeley or Dorchester Counties.

Each finalist will receive four complimentary tickets to the “Little Red Wagon” movie premiere, an invitation-only, Hollywood-style red carpet premiere at Regal Palmetto Grande Stadium in Mount Pleasant on October 19.

Child philanthropist Zach Bonner will welcome the finalists and introduce the movie, which is based on the true story about Zach Bonner and his journey to raise money and awareness for homeless children across the United States.