SACRAMENTO – Carolyn Duty, a volunteer from San Francisco, was presented with the California State Lottery's “Heroes in Education” award on “The Big Spin®” show.
Four days a week, Carolyn volunteers at the Bret Hart Elementary School in San Francisco where she helps to develop the reading and math skills of the second grade students. In addition, she is doing her part to the curb the country’s child obesity problem by encouraging Bret Harte’s second graders to make healthy eating choices, in a language they can understand.
Carolyn refers to fruit and carrots as “cookies”, so when she asks the children if they would like cookies, they scream “Yes.” This word association is helping the students to rethink their eating habits by choosing healthy snacks. Carolyn has applied this technique to the children’s birthday parties as well, replacing the cake and ice cream with carrots and fruit. By changing their eating habits, Carolyn is not only creating a healthier student body, but a group of kids who can make informed nutritional choices in the future. Carolyn’s methods are so popular that the San Francisco School Districts has their nutritionist consult with her to develop a healthy eating program that will be used throughout the school district. Much work is still left to be done, and Carolyn encourages others to volunteer, because as she says, “There’s not enough of me to go around.”
On hand to honor Carolyn Duty was four-time Emmy award winning actress, Michael Learned. Learned won three Emmys for her role as Olivia Walton on the beloved television series The Waltons and one for playing nurse Mary Benjamin on the critically-acclaimed hospital drama Nurse.
The California State Lottery’s “Heroes in Education” award has been presented monthly on “The Big Spin®” show, since 1999. The Lottery partners with celebrities to present these awards, which recognize special individuals who volunteer time and resources to their schools and communities.