Ahhh, to be a teen-ager again. Pizza joints. The latest blockbuster. Passing time with friends. Hang on a second … kids these days are doing some pretty amazing things — and our friends at Nestlé are honoring 20 impressive teens with incredible stories to tell.

Nestlé’s Very Best In Youth program identifies teens making a profound difference in the lives of others. They’ve founded non-profits, become such consistent volunteers they’re practically staffing their local non-profits, and raised awareness about critical causes in their own backyards.

They’ve done everything from forming youth mentorship clubs, to creating rolling book cart libraries, supporting food banks, engineering energy-efficient school buses, and working with orphaned children.

While their work varies, they’re all superstars in their communities – and they all know schools in their area that could use some help. RIF is proud to be able to help honor these incredible teens with the donation in their name of RIF’s Multicultural Book Collection – developed with the support of our partners at Macy’s and featuring Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math (or STEAM) themes. Honorees chose need-based schools to receive the 40-book collection.

Like the school in Pensacola, Fla., chosen by honoree Mary-Grace Reeves, a Harvard student who’s working to become a pediatric ophthalmologist. Vision and literacy go hand in hand and Mary-Grace is proof. While she dreams of advancing retinal surgery for children, she’s already founded a youth historical literacy and community service program in the Gulf Coast.

After becoming familiar with RIF through her book donation to Oakcrest Elementary, she’s also hooked on ensuring every child in need has access to the books and resources they need to succeed in school and life.

Thank you, Nestlé, for your strong support of RIF for nearly 20 years, helping hundreds of thousands of low-income children to share the joy of reading!

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