Jesse Phalanukorn Jesse Phalanukorn, 13, of Oceanport, son of Nancy and Wanchai Phalanukorn, is the recipient of the 2007- 2008 National Outstanding Young Volunteer of the Year Award. Ladies Auxiliary VFW National President Virginia Carman presented him with a $5,000 U.S. savings bond and a plaque saluting his achievement at the 95th National Convention in Orlando, Fla., on Aug. 18.
Sponsored by Brighton Memorial Auxiliary No. 2140, Long Branch, he was among 25 state candidates entered in the national contest, which recognizes students aged 12-15 who have provided extraordinary volunteer service to their communities.
According to a press release, Jesse started volunteering at the age of 7 by helping people in his neighborhood. He serves many groups and his volunteer activities have included: bringing food to needy families; distributing gifts on Christmas Eve; volunteering at a camp for teens with disabilities; helping to serve breakfast to veterans.
He also assisted with a summer school program for children with severe impairments; raised money for the poor and donated it to his church; helped clean local parks and lakes; placed flags on the graves of soldiers; helped bag groceries to distribute to the homeless; made Valentines bags of toiletries for a woman’s shelter and collected food for the local food bank.