We sure were impressed when we received a Christine’s Heroes nomination for Micaela Fink. At the age of fourteen she is already an inspiration to those around her and her sense of community, generosity and passion for helping children in need is exactly what Christine’s Hope for Kids is all about.

Micaela has volunteered for 3 years with the Hamilton YMCA as a buddy for the SKOR camp. She also participated in a program at her middle school, Community Middle School in Plainsboro, called Hands Across the Water (a non-profit agency that provides support and assistance to people touched by adoption and foster care) which helped a school in Africa. They raised money by baking and selling cupcakes at school and sent that money to the school for supplies. Micaela also received a new laptop for Christmas in 7th grade and never even opened it because she decided to donate it to the children in Africa since their computer had recently broken.

Throughout middle school, there was a child with downs syndrome that was integrated into Micaela’s class. In gym class, they would run laps. This child could not run fast but did his very best to try and keep up. Micaela saw that he was left behind and running alone so she ran back to him and ran the 3 laps with him and his aide so that he would not be alone. From then on, in every gym class, she and this child would run their laps together.

Micaela started high school this year and is on the student council. She’s always there to defend someone if they are being bullied, and also empowers them to find their inner strength. She is an amazing child both inside and out. She is an ordinary person doing extraordinary things for our community. That is why we are so happy and proud to present this award to her.