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National honoree

"Anything you can do, I can do better," college brothers say


Ohio & Virginia.

Frank and Jeffrey Griffiths' mom says they always compete. This time, they dueled to do good.

Here's how to tell the Griffiths twins apart: Jeffrey's the one who organized a "free store" where the needy could shop, a 200-strong city clean-up crew, and enough volunteers to make 1,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a homeless shelter.

Frank's the one who masterminded a book drive, elderly visitation, a carnival for needy children and an orchard-gleaning project that salvaged 17,000 pounds of apples for a local food bank.

Their dueling Make A Difference Day extravaganzas at campuses 600 miles apart Frank is at the University of Virginia, Jeffrey is at Miami University of Ohio are typical of the way the 21-year-old twins "feed off of each other," says their mother, Sharon Griffiths.

The brothers graduate next year, but at each school, student organizations have adopted Make A Difference Day as a long-term cause.

So, who won the sibling rivalry? Jeffrey rallied a total of 1,500 volunteers; Frank, 1,000. But now the colleges' presidents are talking about adopting the two-campus rivalry. The competition continues!

$10,000 award from Paul Newman benefits the University of Virginia Fund and the Miami University Make A Difference Day Organizational Fund.


Paul Newman funds awards

The actor and founder of the food company Newman's Own Inc. gives $10,000 to the charities of each of the 10 Make A Difference Day Award recipients. This is Newman's fifth year as a Make A Difference Day supporter; his contributions to local charities through this day total $500,000. He will give another $100,000 to charities of participants in the next Make A Difference Day, Oct. 23.

Newman, who donates 100% of after-tax profits from Newman's Own to charitable and educational causes.


PHOTO CREDIT: BERT BOSTELMANN, GAMMA LIAISON, FOR USA WEEKEND

 

 

 
 

 


Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of helping others, is sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine and its 600 carrier newspapers. Make A Difference Day is held in partnership with HandsOn Network and is supported by the Newman's Own, which will provides $10,000 donations to charities selected by of each of 10 national honorees. The 18th Make A Difference Day is Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008.

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