In a room full of distinguished men and women gathered in honor of National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 24, Gianna Velino stood out. She, like the other individuals being recognized, has made an impact on her community. But for Velino, the work started especially early.

She is only a senior at Cranston High School West.

As the winner of the “Herbert E. Kaplan Youth in Philanthropy” award for 2009 by the Association of Fundraising Professions, R.I. Chapter, Velino will receive a $2,500 college scholarship.

Her interest in volunteering started during her childhood when her family adopted a needy family for the holidays each year. Branching out on her own, she helped raise $5,000 for a new Peaceful Playground at Cranston-Johnston Catholic Regional School, where she attended elementary and middle school. More recently she has also worked as a Partner/Mentor for Special Olympics and raised $1,200 for the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Relay for Life.

A volunteer for the freshman mentor program at her school, Velino is a member of the National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. She has earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award for 2006, 2007 and 2008. She has been continuously involved in her school’s SkillsUSA program at Cranston West, serving as board member, president and national regional vice president.

She raised $6,000 for her classmates to attend the national SkillsUSA competition in Missouri this year and also collected 600 pounds of food for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

The Herbert E. Kaplan award is named for the late Herb Kaplan.

“He believed strongly that every day was a gift from God, and that each day, we should have a little fun, help someone and grow a little,” said his wife Christine Townsend.

Townsend was at Tuesday’s ceremony and had the chance to meet the young philanthropist, who spoke eloquently on her reasons behind getting involved in the community.

“Community service and philanthropy are important to me and will continue to be as I continue my education at college and thereafter in the workforce as a college graduate,” Velino said. “Community service never feels like a responsibility to me nor an obligation, and I never felt better than after a day of service to the community.”

Velino plans to attend Johnson & Wales in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she will study to be an event planner.

“I can’t thank the Kaplan family enough. It’s really an honor,” she said.

The night before the awards, Velino was still busy giving back, filling Thanksgiving baskets at the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center.

Nearly 650 people attended the ceremony, held at the Providence Convention Center, which honored an outstanding individual, corporation, business and service organization, all of which have made an extraordinary contribution to philanthropy and volunteerism in Rhode Island. The Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence, Swarovski North America Limited, Cat Country 98.1 WCTK and Constance Worthington were among the others honored.

Honorees from the Cranston area included Elaine Lyden, a parent and board member of CranstonArc; Albert Perini, MD, who has a practice in Cranston and was nominated by the Rhode Island Free Clinic and the Reverend Betsy Aldrich Garland, who is currently serving as interim minister at Edgewood Congregational Church.

Also recognized for Outstanding Philanthropic Service to the Community was WPRI Channel 12’s Karen Adams, a master of ceremonies of past AFP-RI events, and so widely admired that Mayor David Cicilline quipped that a “special category had to be created for her.”

More than 50 nonprofits nominated their “Partners in Philanthropy” (PIP) for special accolades during the awards luncheon. Rep. Frank Ferri of Warwick and his spouse Tony Carparco, both owners of Johnston businesses, picked up one of the awards thanks to a nomination from AIDS Care Ocean State. Ferri owns Town Hall Lanes and Carparco owns Granite and Tile Designs.

Governor and Mrs. Donald Carcieri and Mayor David Ciccilline were honorary hosts for this year’s celebration.

Cicilline praised the 200 individual members of the AFP-RI, and the partnerships that have benefited the city of Providence.

“Philanthropy has become very important this year, and will become even more important next year,” he said.

“The last thing you do is expect to be recognized,” Carcieri added. “You’re setting an example, a beacon for others.”

Canned goods were collected from those in attendance and donated to the R.I. Community Food Bank. For more information on the organization, visit www.afpri.org.