Saturday, December 05, 2020

Nickelodeon and Time Announce Top 20 Finalists for First-Ever Kid of the Year Honor

*** PROGRAMMING NOTE ***

NICKELODEON AND TIME'S KID OF THE YEAR TV SPECIAL TO SIMULCAST ON NICK, TV LAND, TEENNICK AND NICKTOONS FRIDAY, DEC. 4, AT 7:30 P.M. (ET/PT)


Nickelodeon, TIME and TIME for Kids' first-ever Kid of the Year TV special is set to simulcast on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) across Nickelodeon, TV Land, TeenNick and Nicktoons. Hosted by Trevor Noah (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah), the special will introduce the top five Kid of the Year honorees, along with kids performing incredible "acts of awesome," ahead of the ultimate Kid of the Year being named. The special will also air on Comedy Central on Friday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) and CBS Television Network on Monday, Dec. 21, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).

Celebrity guests making appearances throughout the special include Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Dixie D'Amelio, Billie Eilish, Rob Gronkowski, Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Hemsworth, Ken Jeong, Angelina Jolie, Chloe Kim, Brie Larson, Zachary Levi, Russell Westbrook and Malala Yousafzai, among others.


Chosen from a nationwide search that received over 5,000 inspirational kids being nominated, the five honorees were selected with the help of an influential kid committee comprised of Dylan Gilmer (Tyler Perry's Young Dylan), Chinguun Sergelen (All That), Little Chef Ivy (MasterChef Junior), Sky Katz (Raven's Home), and TIME for Kids Kid Reporters Raunak Singh and Tiana Sirmans, who also appear in the special.

The first-ever Kid of the Year honor is a multiplatform initiative recognizing extraordinary young leaders who are making a positive impact in their communities. The ultimate Kid of the Year will be featured on a cover of TIME with a companion story in TIME for Kids.

Nickelodeon's Kid of the Year is sponsored by ©2020 The LEGO Group and Lysol(R).

For additional information about the initiative and special, visit NickPress.com and KidoftheYear2020.com.

--End--


NICKELODEON AND TIME ANNOUNCE
TOP 20 FINALISTS FOR FIRST-EVER
KID OF THE YEAR HONOR

Kid of the Year TV Special, Hosted by Trevor Noah and Produced by TIME Studios,
to Simulcast on Nick and CBS on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT)

Special to Feature Appearances by Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Brie Larson, Zachary Levi, Russell Westbrook and More


Share it: @Nickelodeon #KidoftheYear

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--Nov. 2, 2020--Nickelodeon, TIME and TIME for Kids today announced the top 20 finalists for the first-ever Kid of the Year honor, a multiplatform initiative recognizing extraordinary young leaders who are making a positive impact in their communities.  The top five honorees from the list will be featured in a TV special hosted by Trevor Noah (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah), with one kid ultimately being recognized as Kid of the Year and featured on a cover of TIME with a companion story in TIME for Kids.  The special will simulcast across Nickelodeon, CBS Television Network, TeenNick and Nicktoons on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p/m. (ET/PT).

The Kid of the Year TV special will introduce the top five honorees ahead of the ultimate Kid of the Year being named, and feature guests stars from entertainment, sports and pop culture to help surprise them and celebrate their work.  Celebrity guests scheduled to make appearances throughout the special include Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Brie Larson, Zachary Levi and Russell Westbrook, among others.


The top 20 Kid of the Year finalists were selected following a nationwide search that received over 5,000 inspirational kids being nominated.  The top 50 were presented to an Advisory Board made up of representatives from Nickelodeon, TIME, Special Olympics, Rosie’s Theater Kids and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA to help narrow down the top 20 finalists.  Of the 20, the five honorees were selected with the help of an influential kid committee comprised of Dylan Gilmer (Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan), Chinguun Sergelen (All That), Little Chef Ivy (MasterChef Junior), Sky Katz (Raven's Home), and TIME for Kids Kid Reporters Raunak Singh and Tiana Sirmans, and will be revealed during the special.

Meet the Kid of the Year Top 20 finalists:

  • Rebekah Bruesehoff (13; Camden County, N.J.), a transgender activist working to strengthen support systems for transgender and LGBTQ+ youth and show the world that LGBTQ+ kids are just like all other kids and deserve the same love, protections and representation.
  • Keedron Bryant (13; Jacksonville, Fla.), a musician and activist using his passion for music to help inspire social change, with the song “I Just Wanna Live” becoming an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement.
  • Dylan Capshaw (14; Scottsdale, Ariz.), a wildlife activist and COVID-19 frontline worker advocate, helping animals in need through his nonprofit, Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation, and printing 3D face-shields to help protect the frontline workers battling the coronavirus pandemic, which he ships through his nonprofit, For the Frontline.
  • Jack Dalton (10; Nashua, N.H.), a kid conservationist helping to educate other kids on how important it is for them to be involved in preserving the environment and the world through his fundraising campaigns and videos on YouTube.  He also uses his status as a Youth Ambassador for the international nonprofit Orangutan Alliance to sell 100% recycled Kid Conservationist bags in support of orangutan rehabilitation, with all proceeds being donated to the organization.
  • Chloe Mei Espinosa (14; Newport Beach, Calif.), an environmental advocate working to protect the oceans through the reduction of single-use plastic straws worldwide, including providing education through her website, SkipthePlasticStraw.com.
  • Tyler Gordon (14; San Jose, Calif.), an artist using his love of painting to advocate for anti-bullying and social justice issues, as well as helping other kids with speech impediments through his foundation, Tongue Tyed.
  • Ryan Hickman (11; San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), an environmental advocate working to spread awareness of recycling and its ability to help save the planet through his company, Ryan’s Recycling, and his nonprofit, Project3R.  He recycles over 30,000 cans and bottles each month, with over 1.1 million recycled to-date.
  • Hannah Jackson (16; Washington, D.C.), a criminal justice reform advocate fighting for the rights of those in the prison system and those directly affected by it, including having successfully lobbied Congress and the White House for the bi-partisan “First Step Act.”
  • Elijah Lee (12; Richmond, Va.), a child abuse and social justice activist devoted to combating child abuse and helping those currently facing it, including organizing his own annual anti-child abuse march and serving as a speaker on the issue at conferences.
  • Ian McKenna (16; Austin, Texas), an activist committed to providing hunger relief to kids and their families through harvesting fresh produce for them and educating others on its importance.
  • Samaira Mehta (12; Santa Clara, Calif.), a tech entrepreneur with a passion for teaching and spreading the love of coding through her initiative “Yes, 1 Billion Kids Can Code” and her coding ecosystem company, CoderBunnyz.
  • Anna Miller (13; Baltimore), an accessibility activist encouraging kids to code while using her rare genetic disorder, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, to help spread her message of positivity, inclusivity and equity for all.
  • Caleb Oh (15; Gambrills, Md.), a philanthropist helping the food insecure, homeless and foster children in his community and inspiring young people to serve others through his nonprofit, Kid Changemakers.
  • Gitanjali Rao (14; Lone Tree, Colo.), an inventor and scientist who centers her work around empathy to advocate for a people-centered approach to invention and problem-solving and provide innovation sessions to students around the globe to inspire them to create their own creative solutions to world problems.
  • Jordan Reeves (14; Columbia, Mo.), an advocate for those with physical disabilities working to challenge perceptions through designing new solutions and providing education through digital workshops with her nonprofit, Born Just Right.
  • Sophia Scott (17; Los Angeles), an education activist working to reduce the socioeconomic disparities in education during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering high-quality academic support for free through her nonprofit, QuaranTEENS Tutoring.
  • Za’Nia Stinson (14; Charlotte, N.C.), a philanthropist passionate about helping homeless women and children through providing food and toiletry items to local shelters with her nonprofit, Z Feeds Angel Food Project.
  • Ronak Suchindra (13; Chester Springs, Pa.), an activist dedicated to helping spread the love of learning by motivating youth to help teach kids all around the world through his non-profit organization, Kids Connect.
  • Khloe Thompson (13; Irvine, Calif.), a philanthropist working to inspire other kids to create change and provide essential items to the Los Angeles homeless community through her nonprofit, Khloe Kares, as well as traveling to Ghana to help build wells for villages in need.
  • Bellen Woodard (9; Loudoun County, Va.), the world’s first crayon activist highlighting the issues of empathy, leadership and diversity through the eyes and experiences of a child.  Her campaign, The More than Peach Project, donates its own skin-tone and multicultural crayons and sketchbooks to students and senior citizens. 

Each of the five Kid of the Year honorees will receive a cash prize and have the opportunity to serve as a Kid Reporter for TIME for Kids with exclusive access to a Nickelodeon event.  For additional information about the initiative, visit KidoftheYear2020.com.  

Nickelodeon’s Kid of the Year is sponsored by ©2020 The LEGO Group and Lysol®.

Nickelodeon’s Kid of the Year TV special is a co-production of TIME Studios, Day Zero Productions, Mainstay Entertainment and Nickelodeon, with Rebecca Gitlitz and Jeff Smith serving as Showrunners.  Executive Producers include Andrea Delbanco (TIME for Kids), Ian Orefice and Mike Beck (TIME Studios), Trevor Noah and Haroon Saleem (Day Zero Productions), Norm Aladjem, Derek Van Pelt and Sanaz Yamin (Mainstay Entertainment) and Rob Bagshaw, Stacey Carr and Paul J Medford (Nickelodeon).  Production of Nickelodeon’s Kid of the Year is overseen by Rob Bagshaw, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content.

About TIME

TIME is a global media brand that reaches a combined audience of more than 100 million around the world, including over 40 million digital visitors each month and 45 million social followers. A trusted destination for reporting and insight, TIME’s mission is to tell the stories that matter most, to lead conversations that change the world and to deepen understanding of the ideas and events that define our time. With unparalleled access to the world’s most influential people, the immeasurable trust of consumers globally, an unrivaled power to convene, TIME is one of the world’s most recognizable media brands with renowned franchises that include the TIME 100 Most Influential People, Person of the Year, Firsts, Best Inventions, World’s Greatest Places and premium events including the TIME 100 Summit and Gala, TIME 100 Health Summit, TIME 100 Next and more.

About TIME for Kids

Since 1995, TIME for Kids has delivered age-appropriate news and current-events content to millions of students in elementary and middle school classrooms across the U.S, and, now, for the first time, to homes, to keep kids learning, help them understand the news, and connect them to the world. Each week, TIME for Kids presents news in a format that teaches young readers to become critical thinkers and informed citizens. As an educational publication, the mission of TIME for Kids is to help teachers and parents engage kids with the world around them and inspire them to join the conversation about current events.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 41st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).

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'The Incredible Elijah;' 12-year-old Chesterfield boy in the running for Nickelodeon's 'Kid of the Year'


Elijah Lee was only in first grade when the world as he knew it became a much darker place. He was all of 6 years old the day he noticed the bruises on the leg of a classmate. When he innocently asked what happened, if she’d fallen down or somehow hurt herself, the young girl confided in him that her parents, in the midst of a fight, had hit her.

He didn’t quite understand the magnitude of the situation, but it scared him. He did the only thing he knew to do: He told his mom, and he told a teacher.

Elijah’s life changed in that moment.

Now 12 years old, Elijah is planning his fourth march against child abuse, a small but mighty voice for the many children — like his classmate — who can’t speak up for themselves.

For his efforts, Elijah is among 20 children in the running for the first “Kid of the Year” honor, a collaboration among Nickelodeon, Time magazine and Time for Kids. The distinction honors young movers and shakers nationwide who aren’t letting their age stop them from making differences in their communities. More than 5,000 children were nominated.

It’s not the first accolade for Elijah.

In 2018, after his first organized march against child abuse, he was recognized by the Marvel Hero Project for his efforts, including being featured in a Marvel comic as “The Incredible Elijah.”

The Nickelodeon-Time award, which the family just learned about this summer, will be announced during a special Nickelodeon broadcast Dec. 5.

That happens to be Elijah’s 13th birthday, which makes it all the more exciting for a kid on the cusp of teenhood, a kid who has braces and a dog named Max, a kid who loves playing chess and a kid who, most of the time, revels in the sibling rivalry with his older brothers and his younger sister.

Yet, for all the things an adolescent could be doing, Elijah feels the weight of the world on his young shoulders. The feelings he had back then, that one day in first grade, remain with him. Led by his faith and supported by his family, this young soul is tackling a heavy issue, and he’s inviting the world to join him, one child at a time.

***

According to the National Children’s Alliance, roughly 700,000 children are abused each year. Some get the help they need. Many do not. The reality is staggering and horrific.

It’s a harsh subject, even for adults to comprehend. But Elijah’s strength of his convictions belies his young age.

Jessica Lee moved her family to Chesterfield County for her work in July from Roanoke Rapids, a rural town in northeastern North Carolina near the Virginia border. It has a population of roughly 15,000 people, many of whom are low-income individuals and families. Her husband — Elijah’s dad — died when Elijah was 3.

On a recent school night, Elijah talked about his experiences and his new community, which is much different from his old one in lots of ways. He attends Swift Creek Middle School now, though he’s never actually been there, and even though Chesterfield school students can elect to go back to school, he chose to remain virtual. His new community is a lot bigger than his old one, he said — but it’s also ripe for new opportunities to spread his message.

On this night, Elijah was wearing a T-shirt with a phrase he adopted on the back: “When one rises, we all rise; but when one falls, we all fall.”

In first grade, “I knew nothing of child abuse,” Elijah said. “I was very blessed to have a home with a mother that loves me, with siblings that have my back, with people around me that I knew I could lean on and trust — but unfortunately, the same thing isn’t with every kid.”

“When I first heard that my friend had been abused, I didn’t know what to do,” he said, and it led to discussions with his mom about child abuse.

“There are some kids that go home afraid; there are some kids that go home hungry; there are some kids that go home knowing that ... they’re gonna probably get hit,” he said. “It definitely left my heart with something to think about.”

As her son spoke, Lee sat back and listened. She chimed in occasionally, reminding him about this or that. But for nearly six years, she’s watched her son walk in his purpose, gaining the strength on his own to tackle a seemingly insurmountable problem. She guides, but she’s not his mouthpiece.

Elijah can hold his own, in large part, because of his natural calling to preach the gospel.

By 10, Elijah was an ordained minister and was preaching in their former church every fifth Sunday until this past March, when the pandemic halted services. At their former church, when youth members would be given time to sing before the congregation or read Scripture, “he would go up there, [and] you would just get this full sermon, and we didn’t even know where this was coming from,” Lee said.

“Yeah, it’s weird,” she acknowledged. While theirs is a family of faith, “that was not something I was expecting at all.”

But the more he did it, “he got bolder with it, and you could just see it manifest,” she said. At the same time, he was becoming more aware of child abuse.

Lee recalled the day Elijah came home and told her about his classmate. She talked to him about child abuse. No parent wants to introduce such atrocities into their child’s life, but she wanted him to hear it from her and to understand it in the context of their family’s values.

“To be frank, I thought it was going to be a general conversation and we’d be done with it and we’d be able to move on,” she said. But Elijah didn’t let it go, and “what really changed [was] I saw his heart hurting.”

“You want your children to stay as innocent as possible, for as long as possible,” Lee said. “But I would rather him understand it from our perspective as a family.”

Elijah began to think of ways to help, and in the year or two that followed, as he was learning about people such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights activist John Lewis, he put the pieces together himself.

King and Lewis were “people who fought for what they believed in by marching and using their voice,” Elijah said, so he decided to organize a march against child abuse. “When I presented the idea to my mom, ... she thought I was crazy.”

As a second- or third-grader, however, “that was my life,” Elijah said. “I was huge on presenting these big massive ideas, ... but this was something I really felt I needed to do.”

Elijah’s first march, which took place in a park near his old home, drew about 200 people. The second one drew a few more, somewhere around 250. Last year’s march, held just before the pandemic shuttered everything, drew nearly 450 people, some from up and down the East Coast. In addition to the gatherings, Elijah organizes speakers, including himself.

He’s had to learn how to get a permit for an event, how to talk to local government officials and how to work with local law enforcement to make sure people remain safe during the events — and how to give media interviews.

Chuck Hasty is the former Roanoke Rapids police chief. By phone from North Carolina earlier this month, Hasty said Elijah was a big force within their small community.

“We need more young people like this, trying to make an impact,” he said, noting that he met Elijah when the young man was organizing his first march, and needed help with permitting and park access. Hasty said not only was Elijah passionate about the subject and raising awareness, but also about doing it the right way, from a citizen’s standpoint.

“He wanted to know how he could make a positive change, and the right way to make a change,” Hasty said. “He was such a good influence, and the message was hitting home with a lot of people.”

Hasty said he learned just as much from Elijah as the other way around.

“I took ahold of him and his family,” Hasty said, “and he took ahold of me.”

***

Elijah is currently planning his fourth march, for March 6, 2021. It’s always the first Saturday, though this one will be virtual. It’s from 1 to 2 p.m., and links will be sent out via social media. Speakers so far include Gov. Ralph Northam and Jon Hatami, the California prosecutor for the Gabriel Fernandez case in which the 8-year-old boy died in May 2013 after being tortured and abused by his mother and her boyfriend.

The theme for 2021 is “Justice 4 Children.”

“I feel like child abuse is one of those things that no one wants to think about,” Elijah said. “We all understand it occurs; we all understand it happens — we all know there’s a possibility our neighbors are abusing their children.”

He added: “We see children as these innocent, vulnerable beings, and when child abuse comes into play, that innocence and vulnerability is not only being violated, it’s being taken away.”

Part of learning about child abuse was also learning what happens on the other side — foster care, child protective services, laws. Elijah even visited a hospital in his former hometown to see where children go when they’ve been abuse victims. He said the dark, cold walls of a hospital room aren’t the sort of place a child can feel comfortable.

“I was just trying to think what’s going through this child’s mind,” he said, “putting myself in their shoes, where I’ve just seen my parent being taken away in handcuffs, [and] I definitely have scars on me.”

Then entering that sort of hospital environment, “that’s not helping them,” Elijah said.

It led him to start a GoFundMe initiative to raise money to transform a hospital room into a kid-friendly environment. He raised $3,000 — then was bolstered by being a guest on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and given an additional $1,000 there. The hospital, Vidant North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, offered to match his funding, and also provide two rooms for children instead of one.

Both of the rooms will be in the hospital’s emergency department. They’ll feature fresh paint, in either neutral or colorful tones, and one room will have games, a computer and more. The other will have wobble chairs, toys, a big-screen television and other features. They hope to be done with the rooms by next spring.

“We are inspired by Elijah’s passion and are honored to work closely with him and his family on this important issue … to raise awareness for, and ultimately end, child abuse,” said Vidant North Hospital President Jason Harrell by email. “The pediatric safe rooms will provide a safe, comforting place for those that use them.”

The marches, the speaking events, the hospital initiative — though he’s making a difference already, Elijah said his work is just beginning.

Elijah wants to be a prosecutor. He wants to be a congressman. He has a way of drawing people in with his determination.

The way he talks, his cadence with words — sometimes breathlessly, sometimes soft and quiet — show that he’s got the gift of gab, even now. He refers to other children as “our young people,” as if he’s not a young person himself.

But Elijah doesn’t just want people to listen to him — he wants to inspire other young people to do what he’s doing.

Kids like him.

“I came from the same place as you, the same economic status,” he said he used to tell people during the marches in his former hometown. “I was able to do this, so what stands in your way?”

He continued: “We can march all we want; we can talk all we want. [But] what really matters is us as young people getting involved in these politics so we can really change the laws to better the safety of our young people.”

“Your best friend could be going home right now afraid that their stepdad or their dad or their mom ... is going to hit them,” Elijah said. But “once children understand that, they’re gonna know that’s not right and they understand they can do something about it.”

“That’s really where our change starts to happen.”

###

Press release via PR Newswire:

Exceptional 14-Year-Old Humanitarian and Environmental Activist, Dylan Capshaw, Nominated for Nickelodeon and TIME® Magazine's 'Kid of the Year' 2020 - One of 20 Final Contestants in Multi-Platform Event

Dylan's plaque in TIME Magazine recognizing him as a Kid of The Year finalist.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 16, 2020 -- Dylan Capshaw officially announced that he had been selected as one of the final 20 nominees for the first ever Kid of the Year 2020 sponsored by Nickelodeon and TIME® magazine. Already a local celebrity and beloved community worker, Dylan first began his activism rescuing at-risk pets and wildlife as a very young boy. He has since established multiple service organizations, including the Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation (DCWF) and sanctuary, along with two pandemic-response organizations: For The Frontline and The Sanitation Stations. The TIME® and Nickelodeon Kid of the Year 2020 recognizes extraordinary young leaders who make positive impacts on their local communities and have bright futures as societal influencers. As the contest narrows, the top-five honorees will be featured on an hour long special hosted by Trevor Noah with the ultimate winner to be pictured on an upcoming issue cover of TIME® magazine. The winner will be announced via a televised, star-studded, multi-platform event set to air Saturday, December 5 at 8 p.m. EST on Nickelodeon, CBS, TeenNick and Nicktoons.

Dylan with his rescued kangaroo.

"Whether it's an animal or a person, I want to help whoever I can," said Dylan Capshaw. "I just hope people stop thinking that you have to be an adult to do something."

About For The Frontline and The Sanitation Stations

Working in partnership with a local shipping company, Dylan established For The Frontline to create 3D-printed reusable filtered masks and face shields to help healthcare workers fight the pandemic, amidst an ongoing PPE equipment shortage. With open-sourced 3D-printing files, For The Frontline fulfills orders for face masks/shields and delivers them via care packages, while also encouraging others to help, using the downloadable 3D-printer PPE files. For The Frontline fosters community involvement and bolsters support for at-risk healthcare personnel across the nation. To contribute to the effort, or to download 3D print files, please visit: www.ForTheFrontline.org.

The Sanitation Stations freely places PPE vending machines in businesses to help broaden access to important pandemic gear like wipes, gloves, surgical and reusable masks. The Sanitation Stations gives consumers an inexpensive way to stock up on PPE gear on-the-go, while also encouraging businesses to help supply PPE to local communities by keeping a portion of the monthly vending machine profits. Learn more at: www.TheSanitationStations.org.

About The Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation (DCWF)

Established in 2017, DCWF is a non-profit business and sanctuary that has rescued hundreds of animals in crisis, along with assisting other wildlife in need across the globe through fundraising efforts. DCWF offers a variety of ways to help, including fundraisers and limited events like Sponsor an Emu, the Australian Fires Fundraiser, local supply runs for animal shelters, VIP sponsoring, and wildlife education. DCWF is rapidly becoming a popular household name, having been featured in multiple stories by local news. To learn more about the organization and its work, please visit: www.DylanCapshawWildlifeFoundation.com.

For more information on Dylan Capshaw, please visit local press coverage: Fox 10 News, Channel 12 News, AZ Family. Or follow him on social media: Instagram.

Media Contact:

Dylan Capshaw PR
258299@email4pr.com 
(480) 848-8095

Related Links

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Chesterfield boy among top 20 finalists for Nickelodeon’s ‘Kid of the Year’


CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — 12-year-old, Elijah Lee of Chesterfield is among the top 20 finalists of Nickelodeon’s “Kid of the Year” award.

Elijah, a 7th grader at Swift Creek Middle School, is being recognized for his work to fight against child abuse. It’s something that Elijah takes personally after an old classmate confided in him that she had been hit by her father.

“It shocked me. It pushed me back a little bit,” he said. “I didn’t understand how someone could do that.”

At just six years old, Elijah did all he knew to do: he told a teacher and his mother. A few years later, though, and after months of planning, Elijah organized his first march against child abuse. He said he wanted to use his voice for other kids who may be struggling like his former classmate.

“I saw a problem and I wanted to be the solution,” he explained.

More than 200 people attended Elijah’s first march in North Carolina back in 2017. The next year, the number grew to 250. By his third march, more than 400 people showed up. Elijah is now in the midst of planning his fourth.

He told 8news, his desire to march came from people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and late congressman John Lewis.

“Because of their voices, we have change. Just because these people marched for a couple of years, we have laws passed,” he said.

For his work, Elijah is now in the top 20 running for Nickelodeon and Time Magazine’s “Kid of the Year” award. More than 5,000 kids applied, and it honors kids across the country who have made a positive impact in their communities.

The award will be announced during a Nickelodeon broadcast on Dec. 5.

###

From WWBT:

‘This is my purpose': 12-year-old from Chesterfield named as finalist for ‘Kid of the Year’ award

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) - A Chesterfield 7th grader is getting national attention for standing up for other children. Elijah Lee has been named a finalist for Nickelodeon and Time Magazine’s “Kid of the Year” award.


“We cannot give up on our survivors, we can’t give up on these people who went through these things,” said Lee. "There was still work to be done, and I had to do it, so I did.”

For several years, the Roanoke Rapids native has been on a crusade to end child abuse after a friend in first grade revealed they were being abused at home.

“We got that person help, and I came home and I talked to my mom about what child abuse was,” he said.

Elijah Lee's 4th Annual Child Abuse Awareness March will take place virtually in 2021 (Source: Elijah Lee)

Elijah has continued to be an advocate for other children, and at 10 years old he held his first march to end child abuse in his hometown

“There were over 200 people in attendance, that was monumental to me, that meant something to me,” he said. “I also knew from there, this is my purpose. If I could get them to listen, even if it was for an hour, to hear our young people’s voices, I was making a difference.”

Elijah has since planned more marches, his fourth march will take place virtually on March 6, 2021.

“To any person that is a survivor of abuse or going to abuse right now, know this is not your fault. You are beautiful, you are strong and you are wonderfully made, no matter what anyone does to you or says to you - you are powerful, you are strong and you will overcome this,” said Elijah.

Elijah and his family recently moved to Chesterfield in July 2020, this is his first year at Swift Creek Middle, but over the last two years, his efforts have gained him national attention. He was recognized as part of the Marvel Hero Project, and his inspiration, the late civil rights icon John Lewis wrote Elijah a letter.

“John Lewis was 23 when he gave his speech on the March on Washington, and it made me realize our young people are not just these subtle people in history, our young people have made some amazing moves to make change," he explained.

Elijah plans to continue to use his voice to make a change while helping other young people harness the power of their voices as well.

For the holidays this year, Elijah is teaming up with SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) to provide families with Christmas.

“I have a saying ‘when one rises, we all rise; but when one falls, we all fall,’" said Elijah.

On Dec. 5, Elijah’s 13th birthday, he will learn if he won “Kid of the Year.”

“I hope it serves as a reminder to so many kids back home and so many kids around America - no matter where you come from, what your life looks like, what limitations have been put on you, you are capable of achieving your dreams, no matter what happens," he said.

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12-year-old activist, minister Elijah Lee is finalist for Kid of the Year


At the tender age of 12, Elijah Lee has grown an extensive résumé as a spiritual leader, nationally known child advocate and speaker. Add to that finalist for the first-ever Kid of the Year Award.

On Nov. 2, Nickelodeon and TIME magazine announced their inaugural Kid of the Year honor. Twenty finalists were selected following a nationwide search in which more than 5,000 inspirational youngsters were nominated.

Elijah, a seventh-grader at Swift Creek Middle School in Chesterfield, is among the 20 finalists recognized as extraordinary young leaders who are making a positive impact in their communities.

The top five honorees will be featured on a TV special hosted by Trevor Noah 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. The show will be simulcast on Nickelodeon, CBS, TeenNick and Nicktoons, and will feature celebrity guests, including Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.

The youngster ultimately recognized as Kid of the Year will be featured on a cover of TIME Magazine with a companion story in TIME for Kids.

“It is so hard to put into words what an honor this really is,” Elijah said in a Free Press interview this week. “I was bouncing off the walls and was so excited to receive such a national honor, as well as to be considered and looked at like this. The honor gives power to my work.”

The pre-teen social justice activist and ordained minister is devoted to combating child abuse and helping those currently dealing with it. He has organized his own annual child abuse awareness march and served as a speaker on the issue at conferences.

Born in the small town of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., Elijah calls himself a “bi-racial male.”

“My mother is white and my father, Marine Sgt. Marvin Lee, who passed away when I was 3-years-old, was African- American,” he said.

His mother, Jessica Lee, moved him and his 11-year-old sister, Trinity, to Virginia on July 1.

He said he has taken this activist path because, at a very early age, he learned how children sometimes are looked at – objectified or as a fixture in a family’s house—or are mentally or sexually abused.

He said he learned when he was in the first grade that one of his female classmates was being hit by a family member. After having an uncomfortable conversation with his mother about child abuse, Elijah assisted his classmate in getting help.

However, that incident placed a lingering burden on his heart, he said, knowing he was blessed with a loving mother, sister, church and friends protecting him. These blessings ultimately led to him organizing his first annual child abuse awareness march at age 10, in Roanoke Rapids. The march was attended by more than 200 people.

Two more marches followed in consecutive years, with the last march attracting more than 450 residents.

His fourth march will be held on Zoom because of the pandemic. It is scheduled for 1 to 2 p.m. March 6, in Chesterfield. Gov. Ralph S. Northam will be a virtual speaker, he said.

In honor of Elijah’s work, the county of Halifax, N.C., and the city of Roanoke Rapids have named the first Saturday in March Child Abuse Awareness Day.

His community involvement, inspired by his growing knowledge of Angela Davis, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the late Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, continued in Roanoke Rapids, with Elijah

raising money to develop two pediatric safe rooms at a local hospital there. Rooms will be converted into a safe, welcoming space for children who have experienced trauma and abuse.

In his spiritual life, Elijah was ordained as a minister at age 10 by Bishop Nathaniel Dupree at the Church Of The Holy City in Emporia.

He believes his spiritual work is necessary.

“My job on this Earth is to continue to fight for our young people — empower and encourage them, to have their voices heard and stand up for what is right,” he strongly said.

Looking toward the future, Elijah said he is interested in politics. “I want to be a congressman and address racism, systemic racism within our court and legislative systems and public education, especially for low-income children.”

Being recognized as a finalist for Kid of the Year is just the latest honor for the young man. His years of activism led him to be honored with the designation of Marvel Hero on the Marvel Hero Project streaming on Disney Plus, episode 2, “Incredible Elijah.”

He also was featured in PEOPLE Magazine for his work with the Marvel Hero Project, and is featured in “Kids Speak Out About Violence,” a book published by Rourke Educational Media.

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Newport Beach teen nominated for TIME’s Kid of the Year for ‘Skip the Plastic Straw’ campaign

Chloe Mei Espinosa, with straws, is among the Top 20 nominees for Nickelodeon and TIME’s Kid of the Year. She was nominated for her efforts with her campaign, “Skip the Plastic Straw.” Sister Ella Lin, who helps her with the campaign and videos, stands with an awareness poster, and her mom, Alison Yap, and dad, David, join them at Corona del Mar State Beach. (Don Leach)

It started at Newport Coast Elementary School.

Chloe Mei Espinosa, asked to identify a passion project she could research and act on in the sixth grade, had recently seen a video of a sea turtle with a plastic straw lodged in its nostril. For her project, she decided she’d try to eliminate plastic straws and launched “Skip the Plastic Straw,” with a website called skiptheplasticstraw.com.

Not long after, she was an incoming seventh-grader to Corona del Mar Middle School when she campaigned the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to stop offering plastic straws with student lunches and convinced Dale Ellis, then the district’s director of nutrition services, to remove plastic straws from all 32 school cafeterias in addition to making paper straws available.

“When I heard the good news, I felt like the ocean was giving me a huge hug, saying, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me,’” Chloe Mei said about her efforts in 2018.

It is now two years later, and Chloe Mei, 14, said she has convinced the Saddleback Valley Unified and Capistrano Valley Unified school districts to make the switch and skip plastic straws too. She’s also managed to get a hospital in Irvine and another in her hometown of Newport Beach to phase them out.

Chloe Mei Espinosa, 14, presented before the Newport-Mesa Unified School District After-School Educators Group in 2018 to call for campuses to skip the plastic straw. (Courtesy of Alison Yap)

In acknowledgment of her efforts, she’s been nominated for the first ever Nickelodeon and TIME magazine Kid of the Year award.

The prize, for which Chloe Mei is a top-20 finalist, looks to recognize young leaders who are making a positive impact in their communities. The top five honorees will be featured in a television special hosted by Trevor Noah of “The Daily Show,” with one nominee to be recognized as Kid of the Year and be featured on a cover of TIME with a story in TIME for Kids.

The special will air on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and Pacific Standard Time on Nickelodeon, TeenNick and Nicktoons. Each of the five kids will have the chance to receive a cash prize and be a kid reporter for TIME for Kids with exclusive access to a Nickelodeon event.

The Mater Dei High School freshman said Monday she’d first gotten word of her nomination in September but wasn’t sure she’d get farther than that. When she found out she got into the top 50, she was even more surprised.

“I feel so honored to be recognized for my work, and it’s a great opportunity for me to spread my message,” Chloe Mei said. “It’s so cool for other people to see what I’m doing and what all the other kids ... [are] doing as well.”

Chloe Mei Espinosa, 14, presents to children at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach about her campaign to end single-use plastic straws. (Courtesy of Alison Yap)

Her mother, Alison Yap, said she was proud of her eldest daughter, adding that the whole family was in tears when they found out she’d made it to the top 20 nominees.

“She’s being recognized for what she’s doing,” Yap said. "[Chloe Mei’s] a very positive girl. She’s always so happy. During COVID, it was really hard. It hit her quite badly with a lot of events she wasn’t able to attend, including promoting from eighth grade to high school, but she still kept a positive attitude.”

“With this recognition, it really lifted her spirits,” she added. “It motivates her to keep wanting to go on.”

The pandemic has made it difficult for Chloe Mei to work on her “Skip the Plastic Straw” campaign but not impossible. She’s participated in remote campaigns such as the Ocean Heroes Virtual Boot Camp and launched a YouTube channel with her younger sister, Ella Lin, called “Sustainable Sisters,” where they review ecofriendly products.

Though she doesn’t know if she’s made it to the final five, Chloe Mei said she plans on approaching her high school in the near future with a proposal to eliminate single-use plastic bottles and to reach out to the Newport Beach City Council to see if the city can also skip plastic straws and offer paper straws instead.

Chloe Mei Espinosa, left, runs a YouTube channel with her younger sister, Ella Lin, right, called “Sustainable Sisters.” (Courtesy of Alison Yap)

The topic has come up before city officials in the past. Newport previously banned Styrofoam in 2008 but made some exceptions for ice chests, egg cartons and prepared food packaged outside of town. Proposed foodware changes came up at a meeting for the city’s Water Quality and Coastal Tidelands Committee in December.

Chloe Mei said plastic straws are still offered on request, but she wants to ask if the city could switch to paper straws on request instead to “eliminate the source completely.”

“I want to keep up doing videos and show you can live a sustainable life and it doesn’t have to be hard,” Chloe Mei said. “You don’t have to do completely no waste right away. It can be one small step, like changing that single-use water bottle to a reusable water bottle.”

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Scottsdale teen nominated for Nickelodeon, Time Magazine’s ‘Kid of the Year’ honor


SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A Scottsdale teen is one of 20 finalists for Nickelodeon and Time Magazine’s “Kid of the Year.” The initiative recognizes young leaders making a positive impact in their communities.

Dylan Campshaw, 14, was selected from 5,000 nominations. The top five nominees will be featured on a TV special hosted by Trevor Noah on December 5.

Capshaw is a freshman at Rancho Solano Preparatory School, but he’s also found time to run two nonprofits and a business.

He started the Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation in 2017.

“I’d always loved animals so I wanted to start saving them and raising money for other organizations to start helping them. I started with dogs, then hedgehog then lizards and then it got bigger and bigger,” he said.

He runs the nonprofit from his Scottsdale home, where the rescued animals live.

“We have a kangaroo, I have prairie dogs, I have a chameleon, savannah monitors, exotic aviary, and a livestock aviary with turkey, geese, ducks, chicken, quails,” he said.

Capshaw started his second nonprofit For the Frontline during the pandemic. He used his 3-D printer to create face shields and face masks for first responders.

“I found a template where I could 3D print a mask and turn one surgical mask into seven uses. And I started sending them all out. We sent over 3,000 care packages with PPE in them all over the country to first responders– hospitals and police officers,” said Capshaw.

Most recently, Capshaw’s been working on a new business called The Sanitation Station. It’s a vending machine filled with PPE and locally sourced food and drinks.

“Filled them up with masks, sunscreen, gloves hand sanitizer, everything you’d need. Talked to the Scottsdale Quarter and I’m getting it placed in the Scottsdale Quarter hopefully soon,” he said.

Capshaw said it’s an honor to be recognized nationally, and he hopes he can inspire other kids to do what they love.

“You don’t have to be an adult to do anything. Right now, it’s a blessing to have this time at home, we have so much time to do something. If someone has a passion or something you want to fix, do it,” he said. “Helping animals and people I’d say is my big goal so whether I stick to these nonprofits or I start making new ones to make more of a difference, I just want to keep making a difference.”

Courtesy: ABC15

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Even in 2020, there are things to be thankful for, says young 'I Just Wanna Live' singer

Clay County teen Keedron Bryant is Time magazine finalist for 'Kid of the Year'


Johnnetta Bryant is thankful that her son Keedron still seems the same, even after all the attention he gained in a tough, tough year for the country and the world. The 13-year-old, a virtual student at Oakleaf Junior High in Clay County, is still outgoing, playing games, riding bikes, and still doing chores around the house.

Except now he has a fan base.

A fan base that includes kids his age, along with massively famous athletes, singers, actors, talk-show hosts, even an ex-president of the United States. 

And now he's one of 20 finalists for "Kid of the Year," a collaboration between Time magazine, Time for Kids and Nickelodeon, meant to recognize children making a positive impact. The top five finishers (still secret) will be featured Dec. 5 on a show simulcast on Nickelodeon and CBS. Trevor Noah will host.


This all took place in just the last six months after Keedron mother watched the video showing George Floyd pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer until he died.

"And at the point in the video where Mr. Floyd called out for his mother — being a mother to a Black son, that moment just pierced my heart," she said. "I was just compelled to do so something, to say something."

So she quickly wrote "I Just Wanna Live," which begins: "I just want to live/God protect me/I'm a young Black man/Doing all that I can."

Keedron, a vocal prodigy who's been singing since he was a toddler, recorded a cappella version on his phone and put it on his social media.


He'd posted other songs before, but the reaction had been nothing like this. It went viral, quickly zooming across the world, even earning Keedron, who'd been featured on the NBC talent show "Little Big Shots," a recording contract with Warner Records.

Keedron performed it on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." It was played during halftime at the NFL opener in Kansas City. Another of his songs, "U Got This," was played at halftime of the Jaguars' home opener. CNN and other outlets featured stories about him.

"I Just Wanna Live" came at the right time in a very troubling year and became something of an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Johnnetta Bryant says she knows where she got the words, after seeing that horrible video of Floyd's death.

"I went into prayer, and God gave me those words," she said. "I know it was him."

She is a civilian worker for the Department of Defense. Her husband, Kendric, has been in the Navy for 23 years. They're both ministers who teach small groups at Elevate Life Church. 

As Thanksgiving approached, Bryant reflected on the changes that 2020 brought her family and so many others. Lessons, she said, can be learned in such a terrible year.

"I'm thankful for life," she said. "I have learned that 2020 has shown me that spending time with the ones you love, just valuing that time together, is far greater than any gift, any monetary or any tangible thing. Just the gift of life in 2020 is a blessing.”


For his part, Keedron was quick to say what he was thankful for.

“I’m thankful for my family, my friends, my church, a house to live in and just love and joy and to be able to get around family and laugh with each other, he said a few days before Thanksgiving. "Mostly I’m thankful for Jesus, and my music career, and all the good things that are happening, how God has been able to keep using me to spread this message.”

Keedron said he wants to keep releasing positive music and motivational messages.

"In 2020 we are going through trying times, a lot of bad things are happening," he said. "We need motivation in people’s lives, encouragement and uplifting people, putting a smile on people's faces and making them feel loved inside.”

He remembers his amazement, at age 12, after posting "I Just Wanna Live" on various social media platforms, then seeing its numbers skyrocketing.

“Wow, this is happening: I'm going viral," he said. "Celebrities are sharing my video, people are posting and reposting everywhere. Even in Africa, in England, globally even, people were sharing my video. And LeBron James and Snoop Dogg and Oprah and Ellen, so many people shared it."

And so did former President Barack Obama, who posted the video on his Instagram account and mentioned Keedron.

“That was just one of the biggest moments in my life. Me and my mom, we were just screaming. What? This is actually happening," Keedron said. "I’m so grateful he took the took the time to post that and keep spreading that message.”

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Recycling Advocate Ryan Hickman, 11, Finalist for ‘TIME’s’ Kid of the Year Award

San Juan Capistrano’s Ryan Hickman is a finalist for an award from TIME magazine and Nickelodeon after his recycling efforts. Photo: Courtesy of Ryan Hickman.

Sustainability supporter Ryan Hickman is one of 20 finalists for a new award that recognizes kids bettering their community.

Hickman, an 11-year-old resident of San Juan Capistrano, is in the running for the TIME magazine’s Kid of the Year recognition. The recognition is in conjunction with TIME, TIME for Kids, and Nickelodeon. Hickman is an advocate for recycling and environmentalism through Ryan’s Recycling Company and the nonprofit Project3R. 

Ryan started recycling when he was just 3 years old, because he thought it was fun. Ryan said he and his dad recycled plastic bottles from their house and then asked neighbors to also recycle.

“I’m really excited to be nominated as a finalist for TIME and Nickelodeon’s Kid of the Year!” Ryan said. “I think it’s pretty cool to be included with a bunch of amazing kids, and I hope kids everywhere get inspired to follow their dreams, too.”

The top five honorees will be saluted on Dec. 4 during the Kid of the Year TV special on Nickelodeon and related channels, a press release stated.  The ultimate winner will be featured on a cover of TIME, with a companion story in TIME for Kids. 

Ryan said he and his dad go around after school and on the weekends to pick up cans and bottles, and he also aims to do a cleanup once a week at Doheny State Beach.

“My story has gone around the world, and millions of people have watched my videos on social media. I’ve recycled nearly 1.2 million cans and bottles since I’ve started,” Ryan said. “I also help support my friends at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach by donating money from all my Ryan’s Recycling T-shirts I sell online through my web site.”

Ryan reportedly has raised more than $12,000 so far.

“It’s really easy to make a difference,” Ryan said. “I always tell people to try your best to recycle what you use every day, and if you see a piece of trash on the ground, please pick it up and throw it away. I’m only 11 years old. If I can make a difference, you can, too.”

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From 3TV/CSB 5 via AZFamily.com:

Scottsdale 14-year-old could be the first Time, Nickelodeon Kid of the Year

20 finalists give back to their communities

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (3TV/CSB 5) – A Scottsdale 14-year-old is a finalist for the first-ever Kid of the Year honor from Nickelodeon, Time, and Time for Kids.

Dylan Capshaw is a wildlife advocate and an advocate for COVID-19 frontline workers. Arizona’s Family caught up with the teen in early October when he was delivering catered food to fire stations and hospitals across the Valley.

 Scottsdale 14-year-old delivering food to frontline workers this month
Back when the pandemic started, he learned how to make masks with a 3D printer and launched a nonprofit foundation called For the Frontline, which sent PPE to frontline workers all over the county.

For the Frontline is not Dylan’s first nonprofit foundation. During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, he established the Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation.

“I saw the need for help coming from outside … all the dogs and animals struggling in the flooding and being abandoned,” he told Scott Pasmore on Thanksgiving. “I knew that even though I was young that it was time to take charge and help out in any way I could.”

Capshaw said his foundation mainly raised money for and awareness of rescue organizations when he first started it.

“I shifted it into rescuing animals myself,” he said. “So, now I have a sanctuary full of rescues, and I actively have a 24/7 phone line.”

When he saw a new need at the beginning of the pandemic, he again stepped up.

“I saw the PPE shortage and all the frontline workers out there helping us, and they couldn’t go home to their families,” he explained. “We sent out thousands of care packages.”

Dylan is one of 20 finalists.

“It’s an honor,” he said. “It’s really amazing. Seeing the other [19] finalists, everybody is so great. … Just to have Nickelodeon and Time Magazine bringing recognition to people making a difference really feels amazing.”

The winner will be featured on the cover of Time.

Dylan said he’d like to keep his animal rescue work going and also is eyeing a career in politics.

The awards show will air on CBS 5 on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. 

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From BSCKids:

Little Chef Ivy Talks Nickelodeon And TIME’s Kid Of The Year – Exclusive Interview

Pictured: Nickelodeon and Time Magazine’s “Kid Of The Year” special, hosted by Trevor Noah, with a kid committee including Young Dylan, Chinguun Sergelen, Chif Ivy and Sky Katz, and Time For Kids reporters Tiana Sirmans and Raunak Singh. Photographed on September 18, 2020 at The Foundry in Long Island City, NY. Photo: Brian Bedder/Nickelodeon. ©2020 Viacom, International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Little Chef Ivy (MasterChef Junior) had the honor of helping with Nickelodeon And TIME’s Kid Of The Year and we were lucky enough to get a chance to speak with her about the process as well as her career.

TUNEIN: Nickelodeon, TIME and TIME for Kids first-ever Kid of the Year TV Special will air Friday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

BSCKids: Little Chef Ivy…Tell us how it felt to know that you were going to be one of the people involved in helping pick the five honorees Nickelodeon and TIME’s Kid of the Year?

Little Chef Ivy: It was so exciting and mind boggling to know that I was going to be one of the people involved in helping to pick the top 5 honorees.

How was it working with Dylan Gilmer, Chinguun Sergelen, Sky Katz, Raunak Singh and Tiana Sirmans?

It was so fun to work with Dylan, Chinguun, Sky, and everyone else. They were all so nice and had so many interesting ideas.

Nickelodeon, TIME and TIME for Kids’ first-ever Kid of the Year TV special is set to simulcast on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. (ET/PT) across Nickelodeon, TV Land, TeenNick and Nicktoons. Hosted by Trevor Noah (The Daily Show with Trevor Noah), the special will introduce the top five Kid of the Year honorees, along with kids performing incredible “acts of awesome,” ahead of the ultimate Kid of the Year being named.

What did you think was the toughest thing about narrowing it down to five kids?

The toughest thing about narrowing it down to five kids was that they are all so unique and important in so many different ways. It was hard not to pick everyone.

Was there any fun stories you can share with us that you had with the other judges as you worked together to pick the top five?

One of the fun stories I can share is when we all had lunch after shooting and we had a little rap session. Young Dylan and Trevor Noah even had an amazing rap battle.

Celebrity guests making appearances throughout the special include Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Dixie D’Amelio, Billie Eilish, Rob Gronkowski, Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Hemsworth, Ken Jeong, Angelina Jolie, Chloe Kim, Brie Larson, Zachary Levi, Russell Westbrook and Malala Yousafzai, among others.

What do you feel is the most impactful thing you have done so far in your career?

The most impactful thing that I have done is being able to represent the dwarfism community.

Being a chef, what is your favorite thing to make/eat over the holidays?

One time I had a Friendsgiving and I made an amazingly juicy turkey, it was soooo delicious.

Chosen from a nationwide search that received over 5,000 inspirational kids being nominated, the five honorees were selected with the help of an influential kid committee comprised of Dylan Gilmer (Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan), Chinguun Sergelen (All That), Little Chef Ivy (MasterChef Junior), Sky Katz (Raven’s Home), and TIME for Kids Kid Reporters Raunak Singh and Tiana Sirmans, who also appear in the special.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I have so many underestimated hobbies like skiing, skateboarding, painting, biking, hiking, ice skating, roller skating, dancing, gardening, improv, sewing, doing hair, golfing, and much more.

What would you say your favorite Nickelodeon show of all time is?

My favorite Nickelodeon show of all time is Game Shakers.

If you could cook something for the top five finalists, what would it be and why?

I would cook a holiday friends extravaganza dinner filled with everyone’s favorites.

Anything else you can tell us that you have coming up in the future?

You’ll just have to wait and see. 😊

Special thanks to Little Chef Ivy for taking the time out to talk with us, and we congratulate her on her role of helping picking the Kid of the Year!

The first-ever Kid of the Year honor is a multiplatform initiative recognizing extraordinary young leaders who are making a positive impact in their communities. The ultimate Kid of the Year will be featured on a cover of TIME with a companion story in TIME for Kids.

Pictured: Nickelodeon and Time Magazine’s “Kid Of The Year” special, hosted by Trevor Noah, with a kid committee including Young Dylan, Chinguun Sergelen, Chif Ivy and Sky Katz, and Time For Kids reporters Tiana Sirmans and Raunak Singh. Photographed on September 18, 2020 at The Foundry in Long Island City, NY. Photo: Brian Bedder/Nickelodeon. ©2020 Viacom, International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Scottsdale boy nominated for Kid of the Year

Scottsdale teen Dylan Capshaw is in the running for the national title of Kid of the Year and the reasons are legion, including his rescue of this kangaroo from a zoo breeding facility in Texas that now lives at the animal sanctuary he created.

Nickelodeon and TIME magazine have nominated a Scottsdale teen for “Kid of the Year 2020.”

Rancho Solano Preparatory School student Dylan Capshaw, 14, is one of the final 20 nominees for the first multiplatform initiative that recognizes extraordinary young leaders making a positive impact on their local community.

“It feels amazing!” Dylan said. “I still remember the shock when I found out people nominated me for this because I never did what I do for recognition.”

Capshaw was among the more than 5,000 kids ages 8-16 nominated for the initiative.

“My mom told me a few people nominated me and explained what Nickelodeon and TIME Magazine were doing and I couldn’t believe it. When I found out I was a finalist it was even crazier,” Dylan said. “The fact that Nickelodeon and TIME Magazine are bringing attention to kids making a difference is so amazing.”

Dylan has been inspired by his fellow nominees.

“Each of the other 19 kids were doing something so amazing and something I never thought was possible,” Dylan said. “They are all so inspirational and powerful.”

As is he.

Dylan started his own nonprofit, Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation in 2017 during Hurricane Harvey.

He said watching coverage of the hurricane motivated him – at the mere age of 11 – to take action.

“I saw animals stranded on the news and I knew it was time to make a change... I started my foundation and raised money for an animal shelter in Houston, Texas,” said Dylan, who flew to Texas, donated the check and funded an expedition to save 10 dogs from a flooded grocery store.

Dylan has rescued hundreds of animals in crisis via fundraising efforts and events, including Sponsor an Emu, the Australian Fires Fundraiser, local supply runs for animal shelters, VIP sponsoring and wildlife education. 

“I am most proud of my sanctuary and all of the animals I have rescued,” Dylan said. “I now have a 24/7 phone line for rescues and to help answer questions.”

His Australian Fires Fundraiser raised $3,000 for the Koala Hospital and Dylan has donated supplies to animal shelters overwhelmed by the more recent West Coast fires. 

“We were able to get dozens of donated items including dog food, dog cans, dog treats, beds and blankets in wholesale,” Dylan said. “But due to an overwhelming amount of support, most vet offices declined the supplies and they are being outsourced to other shelters upon request and need.”

Dylan isn’t solely passionate about helping animals.

In response to the pandemic, he also founded two other organizations: For The Frontline and The Sanitation Stations.

“At first, starting a nonprofit seemed intimidating but my dedication to making a difference kept me going and I filed two nonprofits completely myself using online tutorials,” Dylan said. 

As part of For the Frontline, Dylan partners with a local shipping company to create 3-D printed reusable filtered masks and face shields for healthcare workers. 

So far, he has shipped more than 3,000 masks and face shields to essential workers across the country.

“We probably sent the most to Navajo Nation which needed the most help at the time,” Dylan said. “We also sent a care package to the NYC Fire Department because we heard they were sharing masks.”

The Sanitation Stations equips businesses with PPE vending machines to help make essential items such as wipes, gloves, and surgical and reusable masks more readily available. 

Dylan came up with the concept in September and will “very soon” place a fully stocked vending machine at the Scottsdale Quarter.

“My goal is to make PPE readily available to all who need,” he said.

“Whether it’s an animal or a person, I want to help whoever I can,” he added. “I just hope people stop thinking that you have to be an adult to do something.”

The top five nominees will be featured in a TV special at 8 p.m. Dec. 5 and will be hosted by “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah; one will be crowned Kid of the Year and featured on a cover of TIME with a companion story in TIME for Kids. It will air on Nickelodeon, CBS Television Network, TeenNick and Nicktoons.

Dylan said he hopes to win to show kids that they, too, can make a difference.

“The false conception that you have to be an adult to do something needs to end. Kids can make a difference!” he said. “Just for me to be this far as a finalist has helped immensely in spreading my message and fueled me to do even more.”

“I am so happy I am able to offer constant support and relief to my community,” he added.

Celebrity guests will help introduce each of the top five honorees during the broadcast, including Kristen Bell, Simone Biles, Brie Larson, Zachary Levi and Russell Westbrook, among others.

“In the unprecedented times that we are living in today, it has been inspiring to see humanity come together to help one another, and I’ve been especially drawn to the stories of kids using their creativity to bring resources to their communities,” Noah said . “After all, the person who’s going to bring us a better tomorrow is a kid who’s out there doing it today.”


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Meet this Scottsdale teen who's up for Time Magazine/Nickelodeon's 'Kid of the Year' award

Dylan Capshaw is always thinking about how to make the world a better place and is working to do his part to turn those thoughts into action.

The Scottsdale teen has already launched two nonprofits and started a business in between juggling school and homework.

The passion Capshaw, 14, has for helping others is one of the many reasons he is a finalist for Nickelodeon television channel and Time Magazine's "Kid of the Year." 

“I think giving back is our duty and I understand kids nowadays are busy, but it is our job to make the world a better place,” Capshaw said. “You don’t have to be an adult to get something done and kids should be taking action now on something they are passionate about.”

“Kid of the Year” is an initiative that recognizes young leaders making a positive impact in their communities. The top five nominees will be featured on a TV special hosted by "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah at 6:30 p.m.  on Dec. 4  on Nickelodeon.

Capshaw was selected from 5,000 nominations.

What Capshaw has done so far

Capshaw is a freshman at Rancho Solano Preparatory School and at 11 years old, he started the Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation  after watching the devastation of Texas and Louisiana communities due to Hurricane Harvey.

“I started my foundation and raised money for an animal shelter in Houston, Texas. I flew out, donated the check and funded an expedition to save 10 dogs from a flooded grocery store,” Capshaw said. “I have always loved animals and knew this was something I wanted to do, but I needed a good time to start and that was it.”

He runs the nonprofit from his home in Scottsdale, where the rescued animals live and where he runs a 24/7 phone line for people who have questions about animals or need an animal rescued.

Right now, Capshaw has two aviaries with chickens, ducks, quails, parakeets and other birds. Also under his care is veiled chameleon, toads, prairie dogs, a hedgehog, multiple dogs and a wallaby.

Capshaw also had three turkeys he says he rescued from a Thanksgiving table.

“I definitely spend all of my time outside of school working on the nonprofits,” Capshaw said. “I wake up every morning at the crack of dawn to start feeding the sanctuary and cleaning the habitats. I do daily vet checks on all the animals and make everything clean before school.”

How he's trying to make a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic

His second nonprofit, For the Frontline, was founded during the pandemic. Capshaw uses a 3-D printer to create face shields and face masks for first responders and printed 100 face shields for teachers and students.

Capshaw partnered with a local shipping company called Birdytell to send more than 3,000 PPE care packages to first responders across the country. He said the U.S. Foreign Health Team even used his template to print masks for other countries with no PPE equipment.

Most recently, Capshaw launched a new business called The Sanitation Station, a vending machine filled with PPE and locally sourced drinks. Capshaw said the vending machine will be placed at The Scottsdale Quarter soon.

With his home state rooting for him, Capshaw says this moment is bigger than him.

“I want my story to inspire people to do something they are passionate about. If you are a kid reading this and you feel passionate towards something, my message to you is to take action and make a change,” Capshaw said.

“Be a positive force and spread kindness, nothing is stopping you. I made both of my nonprofits completely by myself using online tutorials and that means you can do it too.”

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12-Year-Old Virginia Boy Named Finalist For Nickelodeon's 'Kid Of The Year'

A boy from Chesterfield, Virginia has been chosen as one the top 20 finalists for Nickelodeon's "Kid of the Year" award.

At just 12 years old, Elijah Lee is already making change by advocating for children who have been abused. He became invested after a classmate had told him that her father had hit her. Lee said he was shocked and that he "didn't understand how someone could do that." Though 6 years old at the time, he did the right thing and told a teacher.

A few years later, he started planning marches to raise awareness of child abuse and use his voice for children like his old classmate who may be struggling silently. His first march in 2017 drew more than 200 people, 250 the following year, and his third march saw more than 400 attendees.

"I saw a problem and I wanted to be the solution," he said. He was inspired to march for change by activists and Civil Rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the late Congressman John Lewis.

"Because of their voices, we have change," said Lee. "Just because these people marched for a couple of years, we have laws passed."

Even in the midst of a difficult 2020, he is still focused on his cause and planning his next march.

Now, he is being recognized for his work. Out of the more than 5,000 children who applied, Lee is one of 20 finalists for the "Kid of the Year" award presented by Nickelodeon and Time Magazine that will honor a young person for their activism and impact on their community, according to 8News.

The "Kid of the Year" will be announced on Friday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon.

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Kennett High School sophomore Isabella Hanson earns widespread accolades for her work


While most Americans can list for you the Netflix series that they’ve binge watched, the new bread recipes that they’ve tried, or the number of closets that they’ve reorganized during quarantine, Isabella Hanson’s list of accomplishments over the last nine months is slightly different. Quite simply, the Kennett High School sophomore spent her lockdown changing the world. And her efforts have earned her a special commendation from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf as well as recognition on the Top 50 list for Nickelodeon/Time’s Kid of the Year Award. 

Issued this fall, Gov. Wolf’s commendation includes Bella among “the rich heritage of individuals who have made contributions to their communities and our commonwealth.” 

He specifically noted Isabella’s organization of Kennett’s Juneteenth: Network to Freedom celebration and her involvement in creating a national youth poetry contest that revolved around the theme of why black lives matter. 

The Juneteenth event highlighted by Wolf was the first big event that Isabella had ever coordinated. Her mother, Sophia Hanson, is a co-founder of The National Youth Foundation (NYF), an organization whose mission is to promote inclusion and gender equity through literacy. Mrs. Hanson and NYF were the recipients of a Gucci Changemakers grant, and once Isabella came up with the idea for the celebration, Mrs. Hanson encouraged her daughter to apply for a grant as well. Gucci Changemakers awarded the grant, and Isabella used part of the money to pay for the basic necessities—renting a podium, a tent, and chairs; distributing free books on Black history; contracting a photographer; and printing t-shirts. The socially distanced event took place on June 19, the day that commemorates the official end of slavery in the United States and marks the beginning of emancipation. 

Isabella arranged for the function to be held at the Fussell House located on E. Baltimore Pike. Also known as the Pines, the Fussell House was a key stop on the Underground Railroad. Approximately 2,000 enslaved people passed through the house on their way to freedom, so to both celebrate the lives and honor the struggle of African Americans in its shadow was the perfect choice. Through Sophia Hanson’s work with the NYF, the Fussell House is now one of six hundred locations officially recognized by the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. 

Isabella handled every detail of the special invitation-only event that was attended by over one hundred people, including Dr. Susan Fussell, a descendant of Bartholomew and Lydia Fussell, the Quaker activists who provided refuge in their home for a decade in the mid-1800s. 

One of the highlights for Isabella was meeting Dr. Fussell. Even though she “knew it was a long shot,” Bella located and contacted Dr. Fussell to invite her to the Juneteenth celebration, never suspecting that she would travel the distance from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where she holds a position as a professor in the Communication and Information Sciences departments. But, Dr. Fussell was all-too-happy to make the trip, and Isabella was thrilled that she did. 

The event was a great success, and Isabella is already planning for Juneteenth 2021. 

Simultaneous to her work on the Juneteenth event, Isabella was also conducting a nationwide, K-12 youth poetry contest titled “I Matter.” She funded this project with what remained of her Gucci Changemakers grant, and Gucci actually provided a panel of celebrity judges, including comedienne Torrei Hart, hip hop artist Kool Moe Dee, and singer Tamara “Taj” Johnson-George. Isabella had previously narrowed the pool of over one hundred submissions to the top ten entries, and the panel selected the final three. The top ten poems were included in a recently published, limited edition book, “I Matter,” with accompanying illustrations by local student artists. 

In the book’s introduction, Isabella explains the source of her inspiration for the project: she “launched this idea to help process the pain [she] and other African Americans felt after watching the killing of George Floyd.” In short, she turned shared pain into activism. 

Recently, Isabella was also named to the Top 50 list for the Nickelodeon/Time’s Kid of the Year Award for her community volunteerism and advocacy work, specifically her direction of the Juneteenth event and the “I Matter” contest and book. She was formally recognized on Dec. 5 during an awards show simulcast on Nickelodeon and CBS and hosted by The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah. 

Isabella competed for one of the top fifty spots against thousands of young Americans. Based on the impact she has made in Kennett, it is easy to see why she was selected. 

Kennett High School principal Dr. Jeremy Hritz offered his enthusiastic praise. 

“Bella is a true leader who actively seeks out opportunities to bring about positive change in our world,” he said. “Her work ethic, dedication, and passion shine through her efforts, and we are honored and proud that she is a part of Kennett High School.”

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Kennett student in contention for 'Kid of the Year' award


KENNETT SQUARE—Isabella Hanson, a sophomore at Kennett High School, has earned her a special commendation from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf for her advocacy efforts of Black Lives Matter, and will featured as one of the top 50 candidates for Nickelodeon/Time’s Kid of the Year award.

Gov. Tom Wolf commended Hanson as being among “the rich heritage of individuals who have made contributions to their communities and our commonwealth.”

He specifically noted Hanson’s help organizing Kennett’s Juneteenth celebration and her involvement in creating a national youth poetry contest that revolved around the theme of why Black Lives Matter.

Hanson's mother, Sophia, is a co-founder of The National Youth Foundation (NYF), an organization whose mission is to promote inclusion and gender equity through literacy.

The event was held at the Fussell House, a key stop on the Underground Railroad. Approximately 2,000 enslaved people passed through the house on their way to freedom, so to both celebrate the lives and honor the struggle of African Americans in its shadow was the perfect choice. Through Sophia Hanson’s work with the NYF, the Fussell House is now one of 600 locations officially recognized by the Nationa Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Among those at the event was Dr. Susan Fussell, a descendant of Bartholomew and Lydia Fussell, the Quaker activists who provided refuge in their home for a decade in the mid-1800s.

Hanson was also named to the Top 50 list for the Nickelodeon/Time’s Kid of the Year Award for her community volunteerism and advocacy work, specifically her direction of the Juneteenth event and the I“ Matter”contest and book.

She will be formally recognized on Dec. 5 during an awards show simulcast on Nickelodeon and CBS and hosted by The Daily Show’ s Trevor Noah. Hanson competed for one of the top 50 spots against thousands of young Americans.

“Bella is a true leader who actively seeks out opportunities to bring about positive change in our world," said Jeremy Hritz, Kennett High School principal. "Her work ethic, dedication, and passion shine through her efforts, and we are honored and proud that she is a part of Kennett High School."

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Arizona teen non-profit founder becomes entrepreneur

Dylan Capshaw, 14, held the first ribbon-cutting ceremony for his new business, Sanitary Station, a Personal Protective Equipment vending machine.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Scottsdale teenager who started a wildlife animal rescue and printed and distributed 3D reusable medical masks has now entered the world of entrepreneurship and is receiving national recognition for his charity work.


Dylan Capshaw, 14, held the first ribbon-cutting ceremony for his new business, Sanitary Station, a Personal Protective Equipment vending machine. The machine is stocked with various types of masks, gloves, hand sanitizers and healthy, locally sourced snacks.

“I would love to start getting them placed everywhere, so PPE is readily available and if someone needs a new mask, they can get one,” Capshaw explained.

In 2017, Dylan started the Dylan Capshaw Wildlife Foundation, taking in exotic animals in need of rescuing. Then, when COVID-19 hit, Dylan started making industrial strength plastic medical masks, that use a small disposable filter. The masks can be sterilized and reused.

Capshaw started the non-profit, For the Frontline, to distribute those masks.

For his next adventure, Dylan has entered the business world, offering his vending machines wherever he can place one, to make sanitary products available to people wherever they are.

“I wanted to start getting PPE readily available for people just walking around, out and about, so I started the Sanitation Stations,” Capshaw said. “For the past few months, I’ve been dealing with permits and licensing, getting it all ready and now, finally, it is here.”

For his work with the DCWF and For the Frontline, Dylan has been named a finalist in Time/Nickelodeon’s Kid of the Year Award. The award honors kids who do extraordinary work for their community.

“That’s been amazing. It’s really an honor to be nominated for that and finalized. I’m so grateful for Nickelodeon and Time for putting this together.” Capshaw said.

Beyond getting his Sanitation Stations placed in as many locations as possible, Dylan is not sure what his next project will be, but he knows the direction he is heading: “I want to keep helping animals or people, so it’ll definitely be something fun.”

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More Nick: Nickelodeon Launches 'Slime In Space: A Virtual Field Trip'!

Originally published: Monday, November 2, 2020 at 17:46 GMT.

Additional source: U.S. News, TheFutonCritic.com.
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