In a hurry to help: Altoona native running for Youth Travel Fund

Source: The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.self storageAug. 07--In the 2 1/2 years Rosalynn Frederick spent in the Peace Corps helping West African villagers rehabilitate agricultural lands, build safe drinking wells and develop literary courses, she learned the personal value of cultural exposure and how one person can enact positive change in the world.Now, through the nonprofit Youth Travel Fund, which she founded in 2012, and a cross-country running trek that is building awareness for its mission, the 37-year-old Altoona native is hoping to pass on that sense of empowerment to American teens.The Youth Travel Fund helps make community service-based national and international trips affordable for students. Frederick said community service can help teens develop leadership qualities and a broadened, global perspective of themselves."(My Peace Corps tour) was a very extreme and long experience for me, but it made me realize how important it was to get out in the world and see how other people live," she told The Tribune-Democrat in a telephone interview as she hoofed through Washington County."I'm richer for having experienced the culture."At a certain point, I realized that there are a lot of students who can't experience the trips schools take because they can't afford them," she said.The USA Run for Youth Travel, which kicked off March 23 with Frederick's feet on the West Coast shoreline, has seen her run through a dozen states and over 2,000 miles.Last week, Frederick had her sights set on Williamsburg, Pa. She passed through Cresson, where many relatives on her father's side of the family reside -- namely, her grandmother, Louise Frederick, uncle Joe Frederick and aunt Mary Beck.Although Frederick was born in Altoona, she spent much of her life in Central America, ac迷你倉ording to Beck. Frederick's father met her mother in El Salvador, during his Peace Corps tour.Frederick has dedicated stretches of her run to fundraisers across the country, while stopping at various schools to talk about the fund's purpose and how community service can lead to a well-rounded and proactive development."A big part of it is teaching the kids how to go out into their community," she said. "I want to give these kids as many skills as possible -- it's something that can benefit them for the rest of their lives."Assisting students in raising their own trip money is part of that skill-building. Frederick said it teaches self-motivation and community relations through organization of small fundraisers and business outreach.Once the money's been raised, the students will apply for a grant, which slides based on their ability to pay.She said her program, which mirrors a larger initiative called Quest Adventures that focuses on metropolitan areas, will try to reach those living in rural and less affluent communities.On Aug. 15, Frederick is expecting to end her months-long voyage -- during which she endured two injuries and consequent schedule setbacks -- in Norwalk, Conn., with some well-deserved rest.Frederick said, however, that her grueling cross-country run is all about leading by example."I really want others to see that they can do something that they're passionate about and maybe something that they thought was out of their realm of capability."Find out more about the Youth Travel Fund at .YouthTravelFund.org. Follow Justin Dennis on Twitter at .Twitter.com/Justin Dennis.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) Visit The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.) at .tribune-democrat.com Distributed by MCT Information Services文件倉