Schools

Prout Student Awarded 9th Metta Students Foundation Scholarship

Prout student Molly Giudice was recognized by the Metta Students Foundation for her fundraising efforts and contributions to the Lung Cancer Foundation.

At age 16 Molly Giudice of Westerly lost her mother to lung cancer. Despite her devastation, Molly turned her private pain into a public crusade to raise awareness and money for the Lung Cancer Foundation.

To date she has raised more than $5,000 and it is her continued efforts and acts of kindness that make her the ninth Metta Students Foundation recipient.

A Metta Students Foundation ceremony was held last month in Molly's honor at her high school, The Prout School in Wakefield.

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Norm Kelly, founder of Software Quality Associates in Providence, created the Metta Students Foundation in October of 2012 after learning of one teen’s kind act towards another teen. Each month, during the school year, the foundation awards $1,000 to a student who shares metta.    

“Metta means love and kindness and we are proud to be able to give recognition to all of those bright lights who give back, not because they have to, but because they are truly good hearted and want to make a positive difference," said Kelly. “I love the uniqueness of Metta Students. We are honoring high school kids for their acts of loving-kindness. You do not have to be the smartest or most athletic to be honored with a Metta Student Foundation Scholarship. Our mission is simple - we just want to reward high school students for doing the right thing."

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Molly’s swim coach and Director of Admissions at The Prout School nominated her saying, “Molly has always been a very driven young lady and I believe she got that strength from her mother. Molly has dealt with so much heartache this past year and never once let it deter her from doing her best. I know her mother is so proud of her!”

Shortly after her passing Molly dedicated a swim meet to her mother, and on Oct. 12 she spearheaded a 5K run to benefit the Lung Cancer Foundation.

“Molly is an inspiration to me,” said Bonnie Addario, founder of the Lung Cancer Foundation. "With young people like Molly coming up in the world it is a relief to know our country is going to be in very good hands! The world listens to its young and Molly is a perfect example of what they can accomplish."  

“I have seen the effects cancer can have on a person and I want to be a small part of helping to find a cure. I want to make a difference," said Molly. "Receiving the Metta Students Foundation scholarship is a great honor. I am so humbled that people are recognizing and caring about the work I have done."

Click here to watch a video of how Metta Students began or visit www.mettastudentsfoundation.org for more information.


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