Awards, Honors, and Recognitions

SHARE founder, Shannon McNamara was awarded $5000 by the Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference, which honors Garden State residents for their unselfish dedication to serving others within the state, on May 3, 2011 at Ramapo College of New Jersey.  McNamara is donating 100% of the prize proceeds to SHARE.  This year marks the 15th anniversary of the program, with an emphasis on the community service and heroic efforts carried out over the years by all of the honorees.  Angelica Berrie, president of the Russell Berrie Foundation told those in attendance, “The award recognizes the power of making a difference.  Every nominee embodies a sense of purpose that spurs them to action.”   Read press here.

SHARE founder Shannon McNamara was recognized by The Princeton Prize in Race Relations for her work with SHARE on April 25, 2011 in Bedminster, New Jersey.  Shannon's efforts were introduced to an audience of +100 people by Paul Flowerman, who spoke passionately about Shannon's commitment to SHARE.  The mission of the Princeton Prize is: "To promote harmony, understanding, and respect among people of different races by identifying and recognizing high school age students whose efforts have had a significant, positive effect on race relations in their schools or communities."

SHARE has been awarded a POTTERY BARN TEEN AMAZING GRANT WINNER.  This $2000 grant will help fund SHARE's work in Tanzania.  DoSomething.org, one of the largest funders directly to young people in the US, announced this award in March 2011.  SHARE founder, Shannon McNamara, was the grant winner.  Grants are awarded to young people age 25 and under, are chosen based on overall impact and creativity.  

SHARE founder Shannon McNamara was named America's Top 10 Youth Volunteer at a ceremony at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC in May 2010.  The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in an international recognition program that honors students for outstanding volunteer service.  Selected from a field of of more than 21,000 applicants across the country, Shannon received a personal award of $6000, and a $5000 granfrom the Prudential Foundation for SHARE.  Shannon is donating the total $11,000 to fund SHARE programs. 

Shannon McNamara was named a "National Young Woman of Distinction" by Girl Scouts USA for demonstrating extraordinary leadership in founding SHARE. Shannon, one of ten honorees nationwide, received $3000 at a ceremony in St. Louis, Missouri. Shannon donated the award proceeds to SHARE.  "Basking Ridge Girl Scout named 'Young Woman of Distinction', The Star Ledger, March 19, 2010   "One of Our Own" Happenings from the Heart, January 29, 2010

Shannon McNamara was honored for her volunteer work with SHARE as a recipient of the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award. She received this prestigious award from Lt. Governor/Secretary of State Kim Guadagno in a ceremony honoring the winners at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey on April 28, 2010. The award, which honors those who perform outstanding community service, is sponsored by the Governor’s Office on Volunteerism, The Star-Ledger and the Community Foundation of New Jersey. This year's 20 award winners were selected from a pool of over 450 nominations throughout the state of New Jersey. "State honors 20 who give back to make life better for others"

During each fall semester, Elon University's Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life sponsors a program called Hometown Heroes: Models of Civic Leadership.  New students at Elon are invited to nominate people who have contributed to the wellbeing of their hometowns.  Elon wants to value people who use their time, energy, and skill not only to achieve personal goals but also to benefit their local communities.  SHARE founder Shannon McNamara was nominated by Addie Benthien and recognized for making a difference in her life and the lives of others in her community.

The members of the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey were pleased to honor and congratulate Shannon's work with girls in Africa with a resolution before the State Legislature.  Shannon received the resolution, along with other Prudential Spirit of the Community honorees, in the Staehouse in Trenton, New Jersey on May 20, 2010.  "Bernards teen honored for her work in Africa, Courier News

Shannon was recognized for "outstanding accomplishments and dedication for the school year, 2008-2009" for her work with SHARE. The honor was awarded by the Somerset County School Boards Association; Business & Education Alliance on March 11, 2009 in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

SHARE is the winner of CustomInk's "Ink of the Week" photo contest.  CustomInk is generously awarding a $100 gift voucher to SHARE for a photo that shows the most group spirit.  http://www.customink.com/photos/share-girls-in-africa

SHARE gets a shout-out in article by a CustomInk employee!   "One such customer is Karen Mcnamara, the youth coordinator for SHARE, (www.shareinafrica.org), an organization that helps educate young girls in East Africa.   We loved her SHARE shirts that say “Today a reader…Tomorrow a leader!” (SHARE Shirts).  There’s no doubt that t-shirts can help inspire the world!"

Volunteer Match chose SHARE for their monthly "Nonprofit Spotlight" for February 2010.  The spotlight was featured on the VolunteerMatch homepage, and also within their monthly nonprofit newsletter which is distributed to roughly 50,000 nonprofit administrators and volunteer managers.   View Spotlight here  Online link: http://www.volunteermatch.org/nonprofits/stories/spotlight.jsp?id=50

SHARE founder, Shannon McNamara, was presented with an A.L.L.Y Award (AllyKatzz Links Leading Youth) for having the insight, the compassion, the courage and the willingness to stand up, speak out, and lead others by spearheading her own charity.  Shannon spoke at the 2nd annual AllyKatzz Summit on October 10, 2010 in New York City to tween-teen girls in "speed-meeting" style at threee diffferent sessions.  The attendees learned about SHARE and then created inspirtional bookmarks for the SHARE girls in Africa.  View press release

"Amazing interview w/ founder of SHARE"

Commendations and praise were extended to Shannon McNamara by the citizens of the county of Somerset through The Board of Chosen Freeholders for her work with SHARE at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, NJ.

Shannon McNamara was named a Regional Winner by Kohl's Department Stores in July 2009 for "reaching out and touching the life of others and making a community a better place" with her work with SHARE . Shannon will be receiving a $1000 scholarship which she will be donating to SHARE.

Sponsored by Nestlé USA, the Nestlé Very Best In Youth program recognizes exceptional young people all across America who not only excel academically, but also are working to make their community a better place.  SHARE founder, Shannon McNamara, was honored to be named a finalist in 2011, out of over 1,500 applicants across the country.