Nearly 200 youth volunteers have been awarded $1,000 scholarships and are eligible for a share of $10,000 in total scholarships through the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program.
Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) today recognized these young community leaders through the Kohl’s Cares® Scholarship Program, honoring their volunteer work and commitment to improving life in their neighborhoods. More than 37,000 nominations were submitted nationwide, and seven outstanding youths from the Chicago area were selected for regional awards for their measurable impact and leadership.
“Kohl’s is proud to recognize the 182 regional winners nationwide for their dedication to making their communities a better place to live,” said Bevin Bailis, Kohl’s senior vice president of communications and public relations. Kohl’s commends these young volunteers for their initiative, generosity and for serving as inspiring examples for their peers.
Local recipients of the $1,000 scholarships include:
Carter Cumbey, 10, Oswego, Illinois
Carter founded SMART2bfit, a nonprofit program focused on education and healthy living. He organized a SMART Walk for Water and Garden event to teach participants about global water scarcity and the daily challenges many children face in accessing fresh water. The event combined interactive learning stations with fundraising efforts to help build a water catchment tank for a school in Kenya.
Bridget Gallagher, 11, Chicago, Illinois
In honor of her sister, who has Down Syndrome, Bridget organizes an annual Lemonade for Misericordia fundraiser. Her event raises support for Misericordia, a residential community that cares for people with developmental disabilities. Over the years, Bridget’s efforts have generated significant contributions—demonstrating how consistent grassroots fundraising can benefit local care organizations.
Delaney Gibbons, 15, Naperville, Illinois
Motivated by a personal connection to a local teacher affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Delaney co-founded the Dodgin’ 4 Lou Gehrig’s Disease Dodge Ball Tournament. The event raises funds for the Les Turner ALS Foundation and has become a successful community fundraiser, bringing people together to support ALS research and patient services.
Ryan Hesslau, 18, Mokena, Illinois
Ryan launched foreverU, a nonprofit aimed at raising awareness about bullying and its emotional effects on teens. What began as a student-led initiative has grown into a volunteer operation that maintains an active website, social media presence and blog. Ryan also speaks at schools to educate students about empathy, prevention and positive peer support.
Conor Laughlin, 11, Elmhurst, Illinois
After his family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Chicago while his brother received medical care, Conor began giving back by planning and preparing home-cooked meals for families staying at the house. He handles shopping, meal preparation and serving—small acts that provide comfort and community for families going through difficult times.
Varun Medhal, 18, Lake Forest, Illinois
Moved by poverty he witnessed on a trip to India, Varun started Unseen Cuisine, an initiative that redirects food that would otherwise be discarded by restaurants and markets to people in need. He established partnerships with local businesses that have resulted in thousands of donated food items delivered to shelters across the Chicago area.
Omer Raza, 18, Lombard, Illinois
Omer played a key role in his senior class service project and has volunteered in a variety of community efforts, including yard work for seniors, assisting at a food pantry, cooking for the Ronald McDonald House and sharing science demonstrations with elementary students. His broad range of hands-on service reflects a deep commitment to helping others.
Regional winners are evaluated based on initiative, leadership, generosity, and the tangible benefits and outcomes of their projects. Each regional recipient becomes eligible for one of Kohl’s ten national scholarships, to be announced at the end of July. National winners will receive a total of $10,000 in scholarships each, and Kohl’s will make a $1,000 donation to a nonprofit organization on behalf of each national winner.
Overall, Kohl’s will acknowledge more than 2,300 young volunteers with nearly $400,000 in scholarships and prizes through the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program. Since its inception in 2001, the program has honored more than 22,000 kids and awarded more than $4.3 million in scholarships and prizes. The Kohl’s Cares® Scholarship Program is part of Kohl’s broader philanthropic initiative focused on improving children’s lives. For more information about the program, visit kohlskids.com.