Orinda’s initial Youth Volunteer Award presented to OIS student

    Twelve-year-old Rhydian Daniels of Orinda Intermediate School (OIS) made local history this year as the first recipient of the new Orinda Youth Volunteer Award, sponsored by the Orinda Community Foundation (OCF).
    He proudly accepted his award at the Orinda Citizen of the Year banquet at the Orinda Community Center Founders’ Auditorium on Nov. 2 – which was given to him by Mayor Latika Malkani.
    The award recognizes exceptional youth volunteerism and community service – a value deeply rooted in Orinda’s civic spirit.
    The mayor emphasized that “like all great volunteers, Rhydian didn’t act alone,” thanking his sister Noora, who is currently in fourth grade, saying she was also “a super-volunteer.”
    Co-chaired by Richard Westin and Sue Severson, the annual Orinda Citizen of the Year event was sponsored by the OCF. This is the first year of the Orinda Youth Volunteer Award.
    “It was initiated by OCF board member Jocelyn Bennion, who noted that the usual Presidential Award for Orinda Intermediate Students who participate in Others First volunteer service program is not available this year due to funding cuts,” said Severson. “All agreed Rhydian, who had volunteered for over 98 hours, should be honored.”
    Severson is delighted about the new youth volunteerism category.
    “OCF and the Orinda community are very proud of our youth who prioritize helping others over gaming or self-focused pursuits,” she said. “Their selfless actions make a critical difference for good in the world and set an example for all to follow.”
    For Jocelyn Bennion, who helped establish the partnership with OIS Others First, the award fills an important gap left by the suspension of the federal President’s Volunteer Service Award. And because the collaboration was newly formed, Bennion said OCF decided to honor the top volunteer this year.
    “Because this partnership was just created and these students did receive the President Award in April 2025, the directors of the club honored the top service contributor this year, clocking in almost double the number of hours.”
    Bennion said that Daniels’ contributions took place over the past school year.
    “Rhydian completed 98 hours during the 2024–2025 school year. We are very excited to start including youth service in our annual celebration – helping to create a bridge so the students see adults doing service in the community and the adults see this younger generation doing the same.”
    For Daniels, a seventh grader at OIS, volunteering is both personal and powerful. He said his volunteer journey began shortly after his recovery from muscle cancer.
    “I moved to Orinda three months after my cancer treatment ended. I struggled to fit in and became very sad because I missed my hospital and local community that had supported me so much during my treatment,” said Daniels. “My mother learned about the patient ambassador program at UCSF and encouraged me to join as a way to reconnect with my hospital and give back. I learned that all of these special programs at the hospital that helped me get through my treatments – like Child Life and music therapy – are paid for by donations. I thought volunteering through the ambassador program would be my best opportunity to pay it forward.”
    One of his most powerful experiences came through the Children’s Miracle Network.
    “The most meaningful event I took part in this past year was attending the annual conference for the Children’s Miracle Network in Florida as a regional champion. I was nominated for this honor by UCSF Children’s Hospitals,” he said. “It was an incredible experience to meet with children across the U.S. and Canada who are battling many different medical issues and who also want to make a difference in their communities.”
    Daniels said speaking at public events has become a surprising source of confidence.
    “At first, I was really nervous and jittery speaking at the gala. I had never given a speech in front of an adult crowd like that before. But then, I told myself ‘you got this’ and just got up on stage and gave it my all. Afterwards, I felt super excited and motivated to keep speaking at events. I have since been interviewed by a radio station and the Giants’ team, given speeches at UCSF leadership and corporate events, and spoken at other fundraising events. Every time before I get in front of a crowd I get nervous again for a minute, but then I get in this zone where I can focus and have fun with it.”
    Daniels has some big plans for his future and said he wants to become, “a pilot and engineer for NASA. Though maybe also a major league baseball pitcher too.”
    He added, “I never expected to receive any type of recognition for these efforts. I love speaking to people and participating in events that help raise awareness and fundraise for children’s hospitals. But receiving the Orinda Youth Volunteer Award was very special and I feel very honored.”
    For his mother, Regina-Celeste Ahmad, the moment carried deep emotional meaning.
    “We moved to Orinda two years ago from San Carlos. My husband (Bradley Daniels) had actually discovered Orinda decades ago and always felt it was a hidden gem in the Bay Area. Our family was looking for a small-town experience and some peaceful surroundings after the ordeal we had been through and we were fortunate to find that in Orinda.”
    She described her son’s transformation after illness.
    “A parent’s second biggest fear after the thought of losing their child to cancer is how their life may drastically change after the treatment,” she said. “It was truly a gift of healing for our family to see Rhydian transform after such a horrific health experience from a previously shy child to a bold, confident boy who can take the stage and make an audience laugh and cry and be motivated to make a difference. His volunteer work has become his superpower and gives him a quiet strength. We are in awe of what he has done and continues to do all while juggling school, sports and extracurricular activities.”
    Ahmad said the family’s volunteerism is a collective effort.
    “With every event, we are reminded of what brought us to this point and how lucky and grateful we are to be together as a family every day. With memory of that experience and the significance of the volunteer work Rhydian, his sister Noora and our family are undertaking, we are able to focus our collective efforts to support each other.”
    She said the award has brought pride and inspiration.
    “We were shocked and then so incredibly proud when we received the email informing us he was going to be honored by the mayor with this award. While this volunteer work is a significant part of our lives, it has felt very private and not something easily relatable to talk about with friends or our community. We know this award is very impactful for Rhydian and has brought some much deserved recognition to an incredible year of service. He has been again inspired to carry on and continue his efforts. We hope by sharing this part of our lives and the joy that volunteerism can bring to an entire family, we inspire future Orinda families to give back in personal and meaningful ways. Every little bit adds to the greater good.”
    Daniels encourages other youth to take initiative.
    “First, I would suggest kids my age think about what issues are important to them or motivate them. Then find adult support in their school or local community to help organize activities around those issues,” said Daniels. “Don’t wait for others to do it, if you want to see positive change and make a difference, be the one to take action.”