WASINGTON, D.C. – Elizabeth Freeman, an Honors College senior in the College of Education and Health Professions, was chosen to receive funding and training to enable her to lead a large-scale service initiative to create positive change in the lives of Arkansas children.

The Youth Service America and Festival of Children Foundation announced that Freeman, who is from Little Rock, will serve as a National Child Awareness Month Youth Ambassador. Previously, she was recognized as the Henry G. and Stella Hotz outstanding sophomore as well as the Presidential Scholar in the College of Education and Health Professions, receiving more than $18,000 total in scholarships.

As one of 51 Youth Ambassadors selected from a nationwide pool, Freeman will receive funding and training to lead an initiative to address the large percentage of children in Arkansas, specifically in Fayetteville, who do not have reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food.  

Freeman's work begins in September — National Child Awareness Month — when she travels to Washington, D.C., for leadership training and meetings with members of the state's congressional delegation. She then returns home to launch a campaign to raise awareness to the food insecurity in Arkansas as well as partnering with a local non-profit, the Yvonne Richardson Community Center, serving a lower income group, to conduct cooking classes named "Kids Can Cook." The focus of the cooking classes will be to teach children ages 6-15 how to cook healthy meals on a limited budget.

Freeman was selected through a competitive application process, and chosen based on the quality of her project proposal and its potential to create substantive, large-scale change on behalf of young people in Fayetteville.

Now in its eighth year, National Child Awareness Month is a program spearheaded by Festival of Children Foundation to raise awareness about issues affecting children and encourage the nation's youth to take action.

The 51 Youth Ambassadors will work in their communities, and form a collective network to raise awareness around issues important to young people. Youth Ambassadors receive a national-level platform for their cause; a $1,000 grant to develop a service project in his or her home state; ongoing training and project guidance; and networking opportunities with other Youth Ambassadors across the country.

"These teens and young adults are the future of philanthropy. They understand the importance of making a difference and giving back. Festival of Children Foundation's collaboration with YSA allows us to give these kids the tools to create a powerful youth network that will create lasting change across the country," said Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder and executive director of Festival of Children Foundation.

Freeman is pursuing a career in non-profit work. She has received the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship over the course of the last four years and currently serves on the board of the university's Volunteer Action Center, specifically involved with Razorback Food Recovery, recovering food from cafeterias at the university to distribute that food to those in need. She received a Presidential Service Award for her volunteer work in 2014 and has completed over 200 volunteer hours in the last three years. She is excited to continue serving the Northwest Arkansas Community, with a focus on children, throughout her senior year.  

About the Youth Service America: The organization helps young people find their voice, take action, and make an impact on vital community issues. Through international campaigns such as Global Youth Service Day and Semester of Service; funding and grants programs; resources and training opportunities; and recognition programs, YSA helps build a global culture of engaged children and youth committed to a lifetime of meaningful service, learning, and leadership. For more information, visit www.YSA.org.

About the Festival of Children Foundation: The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves to bring together and coordinate the efforts of charities, companies and individuals who actively work to improve the lives of children. Festival of Children Foundation gives a voice, guidance and support. One hundred percent of the administrative costs are covered by designated funding, allowing donations to go further in direct support of programs and services that improve the lives of children. For more information, please visit www.festivalofchildren.org.