The African American Men of Westchester, Inc. (“AAMW”) and United Way of Westchester - Putnam in conjunction with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Legacy Awards Committee will hold its 11th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Legacy Awards celebration of young people age 12 – 21 on Monday, January 16, 2012, from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the Doubletree Hotel, 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY. Admission and lunch is $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door.

Seven (7) high school students are being recognized as Youth Legacies this year for positively impacting and/or contributing to the community in the same spirit as the legendary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and will be awarded with cash prizes in categories specific to their individual achievements as follows:

Social Action: Jazzmin Hylton - 12th grade at New Rochelle High School; Social Justice: Jason E. Bass - 12th grade at Alexander Hamilton High School; Peace/Nonviolence: Catherine Semple – 12th grade at Peekskill High School; Vision: Danielle Jacobson – 12th grade at Horace Greeley High School; Building Bridges: Josh Goldstein – 11th grade at Fieldston School and Victoria Blumenfeld - 12th grade at Horace Greeley High School; and Spirit of Love: Olivia Iannotti – 10th grade at Ursuline High School.

"Now, maybe more than ever before, it is especially important to honor youth for demonstrating the characteristics of true leaders," said William Carter of White Plains, Chair of the Legacy Youth Awards Committee, Commissioner of Theodore D. Young Community Center and member of African American Men of Westchester, Inc. "These youth serve as positive examples at a time when our young people are inundated with negative messages and peer images. There is joy and prosperity in serving your community and organizing public deeds that reflect Dr. King's teachings. In this way, our awardees are examples for both youth and adults in the community to follow."