Shannon Kenney, 12, a student at Salem Lutheran School in Glendale, was selected out of nearly 1,000 nominations as one of 2007 honorees for academic excellence and outstanding community service Nestlé Very Best in Youth.

This past Saturday, she attended an awards ceremony in Universal City where she was honored by Nestle Very Best in Youth spokesperson and football legend Jerry Rice, receiving $1,000 to donate to a charity of her choice.

Weighing in at only 1 pound, 15 ounces when she was born, Kenney's parents called her their "miracle child" for the many health obstacles she overcame in her early developmental years.

Today at 12 years old, Kenney maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA while devoting herself to making a difference in her community.

After losing a close friend to brain cancer, Kenney contacted St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and suggested a joint fundraiser with area youth organizations. She was invited to be the chapter's only youth member and is now seeing her plan put into action.

Kenney is involved with Para Los Niños, a Los Angeles based charity benefiting poverty stricken children and their families; she collects books from her friends to donate to this organization that the Nestlé Very Best in Youth honorees visited July 27.

After visiting Cambodia last year, Kenney recognized that she could make an impact on communities outside of Los Angeles. Kenney asked friends to bring school supplies and uniforms, instead of gifts, to her birthday party, which she then sent to children in Cambodia.

"What Shannon and each of the Nestlé Very Best In Youth have achieved at such a young age is commendable and they deserve to be recognized," said Ken Bentley, vice president of community affairs/educational programs at Nestlé USA. "These kids have, and are forever changing the lives of those surrounding them, as well as the lives of people they may never meet. Each of them embodies the characteristics of what it truly means to be a Nestlé Very Best In Youth and I look forward to the successes they will have in the future."

Honoring young people between the ages of 10 and 18, the Nestlé Very Best In Youth award program pays tribute to those young people who are committed to academic excellence and are devoted to leading a generation of positive change within their communities.

With the belief that you are never too young to realize your dreams and make a difference in the world, these remarkable youth are an inspiration. They have set the standard for excellence.

Promoted through a nationwide network of teachers, parents and community volunteers, the Nestlé Very Best In Youth program was initiated in 1997 to support and recognize outstanding leadership among today's youth.

To date, five Nestlé Very Best In Youth books have been published with winners' stories and more than $600,000 has been donated to support winners' charities.

About Nestlé: Named one of "America's Most Admired Food Companies" in Fortune magazine for the 10th consecutive year, Nestlé USA provides quality brands and products that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with Lean Cuisine ® to baking traditions with Nestlé ® Toll House ®, Nestlé USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverage products that enrich the very experience of life itself.

That's what "Nestlé. Good Food, Good Life" is all about. Nestlé USA, with 2006 sales of $8.5 billion (includes Nestlé Nutrition), is part of Nestlé S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland - the world's largest food company - with sales of $79 billion.

For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or NestleNewsroom.com.