A 12-year-old from Minnesota, Natalie Flaherty, wins the $10,000 national Young Hero prize (the Gloria Barron Prize) for an anti-hate initiative built around the distribution of bracelets. Her project, “I Stand with Anne,” centers on promoting kindness and standing against hate.
According to reports, Flaherty began with a Halloween idea in 2023 and later expanded it into a broader campaign. The bracelets carry her message and are distributed through partnerships with organizations focused on Holocaust remembrance. Sources say the effort reaches all 50 U.S. states and extends to more than 50 countries, with distribution exceeding 100,000 bracelets.
Outlets describe similar core details—Flaherty’s age, Minnesota connection, the bracelet-based message, and the award amount—while emphasizing different aspects. One source highlights her plan to continue advocacy and educational work using the prize money, while another focuses on her intention to distribute more bracelets for the next Halloween season. Both portray the campaign as a growing movement beyond its initial concept.
