Daily News article on Chas's Eagle Scout Project

DAILY NEWS Tuesday, May 5, 2003

By Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- In one of 14-year-old Chas Duff's favorite science-fiction novels "Ender's Game," a young boy saves the world from destruction.

The Chatsworth teen's own accomplishments are not quite as earth-shaking, but sponsors of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award said Chas showed the same innovation and determination as his fictional hero when he transformed a locker room into a library at a high school for juvenile offenders.

The project won Chas one of the nation's highest awards for young volunteers.

"The overall thing that we're looking for are kids who show initiative.  This was definitely one of them,"  said Prudential spokesman Lew Armistead after a ceremony Monday at the International Trade Center, where Chas and nine other teens were honored.

Chas, an eighth-grader at Sierra Canyon High School, said his teachers thrust him into the world of volunteerism two years ago, when his class decorated shoe boxes and filled them with school supplies for disadvantaged children.

"Just seeing how happy they were was really cool.  It was just amazing to see how happy they were just owning their own crayons," he said.

For his Eagle Scout project this year, Chas, an avid reader, decided that he would help create a library at a school that didn't have one.

"When we asked him what he wanted to do, he already had a pretty good idea what he wanted.  He likes to read, but what he really likes is working with kids." said his father, Charles Duff.

With the help of officials of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Chas pinpointed a school in Chatsworth that had no library, the William Tell Aggeler Opportunity High School for juvenile offenders.

The he set to work turning an old locker room into a place for contemplation and study.

He solicited donations of money, building materials, and some labor from local businesses and unions.  The rest of the work -- fixing water-damaged walls, painting, installing bookshelves -- fell to Chas and his friends.

In the meantime, he said the Aggeler Opportunity High has applied for a $50,000 grant to buy books.  Boeing Co. donated $3,000 for reading materials and a recent book fair at Sierra Canyon generated about 600 book donations.

"I just hope that it encourages other kids to build libraries and learn to read," Chas said.

As part of the Prudential award, Chas will receive $5,000, and $25,000 worth of toys, clothing and other items will be donated in his name to needy children.  The award was created eight years ago to reward young role models.

The library is scheduled to open officially in June.

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