National Awards

Altoona, Pa.

National Award to leukemia patient Mindy Elvey, 15, of Altoona, Pa., who for Make A Difference Day arranged to get 10 TVs donated to children's sickrooms.

Mindy Elvey of Altoona learned in 1996 that she has leukemia. After that, the teen and her family often stayed for days at the Ronald McDonald House in Pittsburgh while Mindy underwent energy-sapping radiation and chemotherapy at a nearby hospital.

Because she couldn't risk infection, Mindy had to stay closed up in her room instead of joining others around the TV in the house's common room.

Grateful for the care she received, eager to help other sick kids, and motivated by reading about Make A Difference Day in her local paper, the Altoona Mirror, Mindy set out to buy one TV for one guest room.

She made crafts -- twining ribbons and bows around miniature brooms, arranging swags of dried and silk flowers to perch on a table or hang above a door -- and sold them to family and friends. That reaped enough money to buy a 13-inch color TV.

Then her ambitions grew. With her mother's help, Mindy persuaded local groups and businesses to match her purchase. Result? The 15-bedroom Ronald McDonald house has 10 new TVs, and Mindy -- who still gets chemo once a month -- is a hero. Just ask Colin Lang, 14, who stayed there for a month after a liver transplant: "The TV is great!"

$2,000 award will benefit Ronald McDonald House, Pittsburgh.

Photo Credit: RICHARD KELLY FOR USA WEEKEND.

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