An Old Haberdasher who led others in raising over £50,000 for good causes in two years came second in Hertfordshire’s Young People of the Year awards or the ‘YOPEYs’.
YOPEYs are Oscars for young people who ‘give to others’. The movement was founded in Hertfordshire 10 years ago by a former national newspaper journalist to give the younger generation a ‘good press’.
Eighteen-year-old Yoni Stone raised all of the money in two years – mostly by leading three different organisations at Habs while taking his A-levels. Yoni chaired the Charity Committee, Jewish Society and his house’s charity group. He led all three in fundraising for different charities. He also fundraised in the local Jewish community and was sponsored personally to take part in sports. He did all this while getting top grades in his A-levels so that he went to Oxford University this autumn.
Yoni was nominated for the Smith-Milne Young People of the Year by the school chaplain. The Rev Jan Goodair said that Yoni is “an exceptional young man who has devoted a phenomenal amount of time and energy to raising funds”.
He led the school’s 1100 boys in fundraising £41,000 to set up three pre-schools in poor Tanzania. Yoni was also involved in another scheme to benefit Africa. The school collected laptops that were adapted to teach new and improved agricultural techniques to African farmers. He also led the collection of spare pairs of glasses for the charity VisionAid to recycle. Yoni also helped arrange blood-giving sessions at the school.
As if leading the school’s charity committee was not enough, he also led fundraising by his school house. Calverts House raised more than £7,500 for Harrow Multiple Sclerosis Centre through quizzes, fetes, and cake sales. Yoni was also involved in Mencap Funday at Habs for 200 youngsters with learning difficulties. “We organised it so that children can come and have a great day while we entertain them, and the carers can have a break as well,” said Yoni.
Every year the school’s Jewish Society holds its annual religious day lunch party. It raises a few hundred pounds for people with learning difficulties. This year Yoni and some friends did more. They held a Jewish poem recital in people’s homes in Radlett and collected £900. On his own Yoni raised another £1,200 by competing in the Windsor triathlon. For two years with friends, Yoni ran a youth group at his synagogue in Radlett.
All the 40-plus judges – who included past Hertsmere mayor Cllr Paul Morris and many mayors and MPs from throughout Hertfordshire as well as young people – were struck by Yoni’s leadership. Justin Smith-Milne, principal of Smith-Milne & Co accountants of Rickmansworth, presented Yoni with his £400 prize. He said Yoni’s “leadership skills have encouraged others to make a real positive difference, touching the lives of many people both at home and abroad.
“But we were also struck by this finalist’s tremendous character and humility. He has not done this to seek attention for himself, but because he has been asked to lead. And from his own privileged position he has realised there is much need in the world and that he should step up to help.”
Just before he started university, Yoni went to Morocco to visit an orphanage and distribute food. “At times I found it hard to see the problems the children faced,” said Yoni. “It was a character-building and has motivated me to be more active in helping to alleviate poverty.” Yoni was happy to be involved with charities that did “so much good work” and has already signed up to help with the university ‘RAG’ (Raise And Give) in Oxford.