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Archived CFC News
Teens Honored for Community Service
FALL RIVER ~ Amanda Soares is 19 and the mother a beautiful two-year-old
girl, Hope. While this young mother loves her child more than anything, it
was never her intention to be a mother so young, if at all.
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| Amanda Soares and her daughter, Hope, 2, enjoy time in the park. Hope holds onto
her mom's State Senate citation presented by State. Rep. Joan Menard. |
Her second love is telling her story to city teens and to advise them to be
wise in making choices that could dramatically alter their lives and take away their youth.
For her many hours of service to the community as part of the speakers program, Amanda was one of several teens to receive awards at a Peer Leader Appreciation Event held at Heritage State Park.
Amanda is part of CFC's Young Parents Speakers Program and she enjoys going before groups of young people to talk about abstinence, reproductive health and contraception.
She said: "I dropped out of high school in my senior year and received my GED. I never thought I would become pregnant just as many teens feel. When I hear a teen say, 'I don't want to have kids so I won't get pregnant,' that is the one I want to get alone and talk to."
State Sen. Joan Menard presented Senate citations to Amanda, Gloria Abrantes, Zach Schwartz, Tyler Gosson and Steve Rioux and Rebecca Lim.
In presenting the citations to the teens, Senator Menard expressed the gratitude of the community for the tireless efforts of the youngsters in making their city a better place to live.
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| Amy Tobin, TOPPS director, is interviewed by cable television. |
Amy Tobin, director of Citizens for Citizens TOPPS program, presented awards
to some 75 youngsters who are part of the I'm a Healthy Decision-Maker, CFC's
Safe Teen Health the Universal Tribe as well as the Young Parents Speakers
Program.
"We have managed to reduce the teen pregnancy rate in Fall River thanks in
large part to the youngsters we are honoring here," Ms. Tobin said.
Also receiving a special citation was Sarah Steele, chair of the TOPPS
committee. The community-minded youngsters were treated to pizza and desserts and a
hip-hop dance group entertained them.
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