RHS Student Wins Volunteerism Award

Published February 12, 2009

Ravenwood High School student Katie Vacanti-Mitchell knows a thing or two about helping others. At the age of 12, she founded Katie's Helping Hand, a charitable fund that provides meals for families whose children are admitted to the hospital for prolonged periods of time. Over the last few years, the organization has raised more than $100,000 to provide meals to parents at Monroe Carrell Jr.'s Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Katie's hard work and caring spirit have not gone unnoticed. On February 10, it was announced that the Ravenwood High School junior was one of only 102

people nationwide to win the Prudential Spirit of the Community Award. Katie will receive a $1,000 award, an engraved medallion and a free trip to Washington D.C. in early May.

“It’s a very nice feeling to have won this award," says Katie. "But I didn’t do any of it alone. My family was always there. Not to mention the donors. We could not have raised any of this money or gone to any of the hospitals without them.”

The idea for Katie's Helping Hand was born during Katie's own battle with cancer. While undergoing chemotherapy treatments at the age of 12, Katie came to realize how expensive it can be for parents whose children are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. "We wanted to find a way to help them through the process," says Katie. "And so as a family we started this fund to provide them with meals and calling cards."

Now healthy and enjoying her junior year at Ravenwood, Katie says she looks forward to continuing her work with Katie's Helping Hand. Of course, she's also busy planning her future, which she hopes will include attending college at Vanderbilt University.