The votes are in and today we are thrilled to announce the winners of FARE’s first Food Allergy Youth Innovation Awards. We received incredibly strong submissions from amazing kids and teens across the country whose innovative projects and ideas have helped individuals with food allergies live safely and more comfortably.
This was a tough competition because we heard from so many young people who are doing fantastic work to make a difference for individuals with food allergies.
Congratulations to this year’s winners and honorable mentions. The first and second place entries in each category will receive a cash prize.
Thank you to each one of the kids and teens who submitted an entry and devoted many hours to their innovative projects and initiatives – we hope you will all keep up the great work!
National Food Allergy Youth Innovation Award (High School):
First place ($1,000) to Danielle Mongeau – Danielle, age 17, has multiple food allergies and was the driving force behind Rhode Island’s Food Allergy Awareness bill, modeled after a similar law in Massachusetts. Danielle learned about the Massachusetts law after dining out in Boston and noticing how well prepared restaurant staff members were with regard to food allergy management. She contacted a state senator and worked closely with her to gather information to present to a Senate subcommittee.
She testified during the subcommittee hearing and, after several months, the bill passed unanimously in the Senate and was signed into law earlier this year
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Second place ($500) to Emily – Emily, age 16, is allergic to tree nuts, peanuts and other legumes, and sesame, and is the founder of the EZ Network, which consists of her websites www.ezgreetings.org and www.ezeatings.org. Emily created ezgreetings, which sells singing grams that she records, when she was 11. All proceeds ($5,000 to date) have benefited food allergy research studies. Last year, Emily created and designed ezeatings.org, which compiles and organizes links to ingredient information from more than 60 restaurant chains. Emily’s website is a helpful tool to help inform individuals with food allergies about the ingredients on these menus. Emily has also been a member of FAAN’s Teen Advisory Group and served as Local Honorary Youth Chair for the Walk for Food Allergy in Philadelphia in 2011.
Honorable Mentions:
Emily Keating – Emily, age 16, who is allergic to peanuts, other legumes and soy, focused on food allergies for her Girl Scout Gold Award project, “Always Allergic! Raising Awareness of Allergies.” She created a website, incorporated her theme into mock legislation for a youth and government program, participated in an annual health fair by hosting an allergy awareness station and has given numerous presentations to local groups about food allergies.
Lauren Maunus – Lauren, age 15, whose sister Rachel has food allergies, has been working with various Florida legislators on proposed legislation to improve food allergen labeling in school cafeterias and with Martin County School Board officials on a pilot project to implement menu management software in school cafeterias that launched this month.
Aaron Peterson – Aaron, age 16, whose brother Spencer has food allergies, created two food allergy awareness videos and composed original piano pieces for a CD called “Finding Hope” as a fundraiser for the Walk for Food Allergy in Las Vegas. He has raised nearly $5,000 for food allergy education and research. His music can be found on his website, where he advocates for the food allergy community.
Matthew Urfirer – Matthew, age 18, who has multiple food allergies, created the Food Allergy Buddy program, which connects children and teens with food allergies with young adults with food allergies who know firsthand the challenges of managing this potentially life-threatening medical condition. These food allergy buddies provide useful tips, share their experiences and generally help by listening and providing support.
Junior Youth Innovation Award (Middle School):
First place ($500) to Rachel Maunus – Rachel, age 12, who is allergic to tree nuts, has spread awareness about food allergies throughout Florida by teaming up with her sister to promote an advocacy campaign in support of proposed legislation to require identification of the top eight allergens on all items offered in public school cafeterias.
Rachel created presentations and press releases and has spoken publicly to groups such as the Martin County School Board and the Chamber of Commerce regarding this initiative. Rachel and her sister recently demonstrated menu management software that identifies the top eight allergens to school board members and just launched in Martin County.
Second place ($250) to Matthew Batnick – Matthew, age 13, who is allergic to milk, beef and pork, created Matthew’s Vision, a nonprofit organization designed to collect food for those in need and who have special dietary needs. So far, approximately 100 pounds of food free from milk, wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and shellfish have been collected. He has also collected $3,500 in donations for this cause.
We’re sure you will agree that our 2012 award winners are excellent role models for the 5.9 million kids with food allergies in the U.S., as well as their siblings and friends. We hope that their work will inspire children across the country to think creatively about how they can help the food allergy community.
We encourage you to visit the websites that some have created, and we encourage middle and high schoolers to embark on a project of their own that they can submit for next year’s awards!
