Lauren Beeder, 17, of Newbury Park, was recently named one of California's top youth volunteers for 2009 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a national program honoring young people for outstanding actions of volunteerism.

Lauren, a senior at Newbury Park High School, was nominated by her school.

As state honoree, she will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medal and an allexpenses paid trip in May to Washington, D.C., where she will meet honorees from other states for recognition events. Ten of the honorees will be named America's top youth volunteers at that time.

Lauren founded Kids CANCERvive, a charitable organization that has raised more than $45,000 to treat pediatric cancer at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

At age 10, Lauren began visiting nursing homes with her pet dog and started volunteering at Childrens Hospital, where she had been hospitalized years before with pediatric cancer. She provided balloons and decorations for holiday parties and later spent time with young patients in the play therapy rooms.

Lauren raised money by soliciting friends and relatives, and organizing yard sales, lemonade stands and bake sales. She also speaks about family advocacy to nursing and medical classes at local colleges.

The awards program, now in its 14th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.