(Washington, DC) The DC Commission on National and Community Service (CNCS) is pleased to announce that Ricardo Thornton and Jeremy Drummond are the first recipients of the Mayor's Community Service Award. Each month, the award is given to one youth and one adult in recognition of outstanding community service in the District of Columbia.

The adult recipient, Ricardo Thornton, was abandoned at birth and born with mental retardation. He has overcome great obstacles to become a spokesman and advocate for individuals who are developmentally disabled. Mr. Thornton currently serves as co-president of Project Action, a coalition of local advocacy groups that represent the interests of developmentally disabled people. He is on the District's Developmental Disabilities State Planning Council and on the boards of University Legal Services and Positive Alternatives for Family Advisory Committee. He has worked in the Martin Luther King Jr. Library for over 15 years. Devoted to educational excellence, Mr. Thornton serves as a great role model for others, with and without disabilities. Mr. Thornton firmly believes that "every person with a disability can have a voice."

The youth recipient, Jeremy Drummond, 16, exemplifies the dedicated youth volunteer. He currently serves as president of the Youth Ministry of the Master's Child Church. Every first Saturday of the month, he holds peer-to-peer meetings with other youth groups in the District, discussing important issues relevant to youth. Every third Saturday of the month, Drummond leads a group of youth in a service project. In addition to his work within the faith community, Drummond has committed over 180 hours to tutor and mentor young children in the District. His success is not limited to service. Recently inducted into the 2002 National Honor Roll Society and selected as a member of Who's Who in Academics, he has maintained good grades in school. Cheryl S. Robinson, the person who nominated Drummond, said "he's a truly gifted young man and feels that it's important to use the internal gifts God has blessed him with to help others."

Select from the following link to learn more about these individuals and the award: Mayor's Community Service Award.

Residents, community leaders, corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit and faith-based organizations are encouraged to submit nominations for the Mayor's Community Service Award to CNCS. Additional information regarding the award and the nomination form is available on this Web site, or can be obtained by contacting CNCS at (202) 727-7925.