Gabrielle Rooks (“Bri”) is a junior at Drew University in Madison, NJ. She began an after school dance program for children with special needs two years ago and has continued the classes virtually since COVID-19 restrictions prevented in-person classes. Recently she was recognized by the United States representative from New Jersey as well as the President for her community service activities. This was from Gabrielle‘s Facebook page:

I am very honored to announce that I have received the Gold Presidential Award for service! Spring of my freshman year I started partnering with kids2Kids to create a dance program that helps kids with special needs learn how to dance! Over a year later and I have been teaching dance twice a week! This year I have completed over 250 hours of service! It has been amazing to see this program grow! Thank you all for your support! I could not have done this without you!

In the last three years Bri has also volunteered in neighborhoods in New Orleans still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, an orphanage in the Dominican Republic and a poverty-stricken area of Kentucky.

Her parents, Chris and Michelle Rooks, say: “We’re pretty proud of her. We think her first taste for community service was through her VES participation with Project Feed the Thousands when she got to be on the radio with our own Tim Arsenault.”

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