OFM_YouthVolunteers_0319v3FIINALSW_Pages 2 / 22 / 19 4 : 57 PM Page 2 herself but prefers to assist others . years and in that time she has con - events , assisted living facilities , senior Sophia also volunteers at her dance tributed an estimated 200 hours . She centers and CFCArts ’ own concerts school as a dance assistant for little is a member of Beta Club and the and performances . According to CF - children who are starting ballet . National Honor Society at West Or - CArts leaders , Ben embodies the or - ange High School and plans on con - ganization’s mission to serve and tinuing her appreciation of the arts by build community through the arts . S A R I N A Z H O U majoring in English or creative writing He recently performed in The Music YMCA in college . Man with CFCArts ’ Youth Theatre Dr . Phillips High Troupe in the barbershop quartet as School junior Sa - the first tenor . rina is a volunteer C A I T R I O N A F ALL O N with the YMCA Garden Theatre Youth in Govern - Fifteen - year - old L I LLY LAW T O N ment program , Caitriona scans Girl Scouts of Citrus which teaches tickets and ushers Fourteen - year - old teens life skills through a civics lens people to their Lilly is a member and allows them to write bills and seats at the Gar - of Girl Scouts of debate ideas relevant to Florida issues . den Theatre , Citrus Troop KAT I E L O F T I S This year , Sarina was chosen as the which works to 1402 . For her Girl Buddy Up Tennis Orlando head of the State Youth Department inspire discovery through theatrical Scouts ’ Take Ac - Seventeen - year - old Katie had the idea , of Juvenile Justice and as legislative experiences that are innovative , im - tion Project , Lilly along with her older brother , to bring coordinator for her school . In this pactful and inclusive . During the sum - decided that she Buddy Up Tennis to the Orlando role , she meets with state lawmakers mer , the Montverde Academy sopho - wanted to make an impression on area . Buddy Up Tennis is a national advocating for the Y movement and more volunteers as a camp counselor younger girls so she organized a three - organization with chapters all over the teaches students about public policy at the theatre , either assisting the day seminar at her house . With the U.S . that provides 90 - minute tennis change . Last year , she attended a con - teachers or taking care of kids in the help of her mentor , she taught girls clinics for athletes who have Down ference to debate national and inter - extended day program while they wait ranging in age from 9 to 10 years old syndrome.Prior to launching Orlando’s national issues with teens from across for their parents to pick them up . about the importance of confidence , program , Katie worked to spread the the country . Not only does she teach Caitriona’s father started working at kindness and friendship . To put on word about Buddy Up and recruit her peers to be advocates , but she also the theatre when she was 5 years old the workshop , the Trinity Preparatory volunteers . The Winter Springs High helps lead outreach service projects and since then , she has been very in - School ninth - grader designed her own School senior bears the responsibility on the same issues such as youth volved in the performing arts , including logo , gathered materials for her atten - of planning the tennis clinics including homelessness and child safety in Or - serving as a junior member of the dees to use in making friendship pairing buddies with volunteers and lando and across Florida . This year , Garden Theatre’s board of directors . bracelets and put together an educa - setting up the equipment . During the she will volunteer more than 200 Her passion for the arts extends into tional PowerPoint . clinics , she serves as an assistant coach hours of her time to this program . her schooling : She’s a member of or a buddy . Katie is president of the Montverde Academy’s Theater Con - Down Syndrome Teen Council and ANNMARIE LA MAISON servatory as well as a member of the has been awarded the Lynda Pollack Friends of the Library M AG G I E K I R B Y International Thespian Society Troupe Advocate of the Year award by the Seventeen - year - Central Florida Zoo 3977 . Down Syndrome Association . Her ad - old Annmarie & Botanical Gardens vocacy is partly inspired by watching volunteers as a Sixteen - year - old her cousin who has Down syndrome cashier at the Maggie serves as S O P H I A R A A B E R G grow up and seeing how important Gifts & Greetings a Teen Team vol - Buddy Up Tennis Lake Nona sports were to his involvement with store located in unteer at the According to the community . theOrlando Pub - Central Florida members of Bud - lic Library . The Zoo & Botanical dy Up Tennis Friends - of - the - Library - run gift shop Gardens . Teen Lake Nona , 11 - ALL I S O N A D L E R is entirely staffed by volunteers and all Team is a life skills program open to year - old Sophia Garden Theatre proceeds are donated back to the Or - students between the ages 13 and 17 is a “ true buddy ” Seventeen - year - ange County Library System . A 12th - who are interested in exploring careers in every sense . old Allison vol - grader studying through Florida Virtual involving animals . As a member of Each week , she diligently works with unteers as a ticket School , Annmarie is responsible for this program , Maggie participates in the coordinators of this local chapter taker and usher everything from greeting customers a wide variety of activities including to get buddies signed up for 90 - minute at the Garden and processing sales to helping to animal encounters with guests , off - tennis clinics catered to athletes who Theatre , Winter maintain an attractive and inviting site career days , school break camps have Down syndrome . Then , she up - Garden’s beloved store appearance . She is the only high and more . The Seminole High School dates the board for pairing and prepares community venue for live plays , con - school student volunteering as a cashier sophomore grew up at the zoo through personalized name tags for buddies , certs , movies and more . In her time in one of the library stores . These po - its summer camp programs and the athletes and coaches . On the day of with the organization , Allison has sitions are traditionally held by adults variety of youth programs that are of - the clinic , Sophia makes sure she is handed out flyers , volunteered at as there is a high level of responsibility fered . The zoo’s volunteer manager , assigned as a buddy to one or more special events and played games with that comes with the role . When asked Bry Sidwell , says Maggie is a devoted athletes . The SunRidge Middle School the children who attend shows at the why she chose to volunteer at the and caring member of the team . After sixth - grader also helps out new buddies theatre . She also assists new volunteers library , Annmarie said she wanted to high school , she hopes to enter the as needed . Sophia’s brother has Down with learning their positions . Allison be a part of an organization that would veterinary field or get a job involving syndrome and is an athlete at Buddy and her mother have been volunteering draw her closer to her community . animal husbandry . Up Tennis . She has played tennis with the Garden Theatre for seven ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM march 2019 ORLANDO FAMILY 9