If I could choose words to describe Kristen Passanisi, I would choose words like young, passionate, contagious, one of a kind but most of all inspirational. Kristen was too young to be diagnosed with cancer and she was far too young to lose her life to this dreaded disease. Up until the end, Kristen was passionate about fighting for a cure and her life. She took the American Cancer Society message wherever she went and talked about it whenever she could. She had one of the most contagious smiles that you will ever see. She wore her smile from ear to ear and in turn when you looked at her, you smiled from ear to ear too.

All of these qualities made Kristen a very unique individual and she was a cherished volunteer of the American Cancer Society. Her involvement in Relay For Life included sitting on the planning committee, a successful team captain and possibly her most important role was that of a cancer survivor. She was instrumental in getting her school and fellow students to become active participants in the fight against cancer. Unfortunately, Kristen passed away this past Spring but we have an angel watching over us every day.

Kristen showed that youth really do make a difference in the community and her vision of a cancer free world will continue to stay a part of us on a daily basis as we continue to spread the ACS mission in her honor through our youth volunteers.

The individual who we would like to honor with the inaugural Kristen Passanisi Youth Service Award has showed exemplary leadership over the past year. Meredith Schilsky is a senior at North Central College. In 2003, Meredith and her friend Kerra Matteson contacted the DuPage office because they shared a vision of bringing Relay For Life to their campus.

Unfortunately, Kerra passed away in September, 2003 and was unable to see the vision come to a reality. Meredith put her whole heart into the event and executed North Central College's first annual Relay For Life in honor and inspired by Kerra. Meredith rallied the Relay committee and campus community together and built partnerships beyond our wildest dreams. Meredith's determination and dedication to not only her friend but also the American Cancer Society, helped make North Central's event successful in raising over $40,000.

Please join me in congratulating Meredith Schilsky, the recipient of the 2004 Kristen Passanisi Youth Service Award.

DuPage Regional Office, Illinois Division, Inc.
1801 Meyers Road, Site 100, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 t) 630.932.1141 1-800-322-6237 f) 630.932.1171
For Cancer Information Contact 1.800.ACS.2345 or www.cancer.org