Rydal-Meadowbrook Civic Association

Dorionne Brown
"For as long as I can remember, I have awakened with thankfulness to see another day and to live out the day by doing as much as I can..." These are not words coming from many teenagers today. This powerful statement comes from a young lady who has a passion for helping others. Dorionne Brown is a senior at Abington Senior High School, where she has distinguished herself not only academically, but also through her community service. She has over 100 hours of service in and out of school. As a member of the Key Club, Dorianne has participated in food drives for the homeless, walk-a-thons, fundraisers for the refugees of Darfur to enable them to become aware of AIDS in African countries, and a mentoring program for younger African-American girls.

Outside of school, she is a member of I.M.A.G.I.N.E. (I'm an African-American Girl, Intelligent, Noble and Educated), a community-based college readiness program. Participating in this program has helped Dorianne become the leader she is. She is respected by both faculty and peers. She has also been chosen by her counselors as a student participant for one of the Superintendent's committees.

During her "spare time," if there is any, Dorianne has based cookies and made holiday cards for the Ronald McDonald House, helped at the Thrift Store at Abington Hospital. and has volunteered to feed the homeless through the Rev. Leon Sullivan Foundation. Finally, Dorionne is a Y Achiever at the Abington YMCA, and a very active member of her local church where she serves as a volunteer secretary in the choir.

Dorionne credits her commitment to others to her mother and grandmother, who took her with them (from a very early age) on their quests to help others. Although an only child, she thinks of others first rather than herself, and has grown into a selfless, compassionate young lady.

Dorionne's personality, coupled with the self-confidence and the energy she exhibits, will take her far in life. She has already decided that she will attend college and states: "I hope to motivate others to make the same commitment to help our world to become the 'land of the free and see peace all around.