For Immediate Release

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mike Liberty, AIFS
(203) 399-5187, mliberty@aifs.com

Eighteen Au Pairs Receive Honor for Volunteer Work Across the United States

Stamford, Conn.– July 10, 2017 – Au Pair in America announces the winners of the 2017 Au Pair Community Service Awards. These annual awards recognize au pairs making a difference in their host communities through volunteer work above and beyond their contributions as child care providers, students and cultural ambassadors in the United States.

Ana María Zerecero Núñez is the first-place Grand Prize Winner of the 2017 Community Service Awards. Núñez is an au pair from Mexico living with a host family in Illinois. She donated time helping at a pediatric clinic for children with special needs.

The second-place Grand Prize Winner, Rebecca Cerpentier, is an au pair from the Netherlands living with a host family in Georgia. She served her community volunteering at local schools.

Third-place Grand Prize Winner Grace Naude is an au pair from South Africa living with a host family in Georgia. Naude earned this recognition by serving her host community working with several organizations including her local church and volunteering at a number of events.

In addition to the Grand Prize Winners, Au Pair in America announces the winners of the 2017 Au Pair Community Service Awards at the state level:

Arizona – Nitzan Lavi, Israel
California – Mara Ambruoso, Italy
Connecticut – Charlotte Bourgeais, France
Hawaii – Miriam Carod Royo, Spain
Maryland – Bethany Stead & Leigh Johnson, United Kingdom
Massachusetts – Esther Roth, Germany
Michigan – Finn Klappert, Germany
Missouri – Yifan Zhou, China
Minnesota – Natalie Fritsch, Germany     North Carolina – Rebekah Turley, United Kingdom
Pennsylvania – Paula Kaça Guimarães, Brazil
Texas – Melina Welker, Germany
Virginia – Maria De La Torre, Mexico
Washington, D.C. – Tatiana Mayorga, Ecuador

Au Pair in America Sr. Vice President and Director Ruth Ferry shares, “The Au Pair Community Service Awards recognize the incomparable energy and generosity of au pairs making a real difference in our communities. We applaud their efforts to help others.”

Au Pair in America is the nation’s first and largest au pair organization, combining live-in child care and cultural exchange for a mutually rewarding and enriching experience for the entire family. Since 1986, they have placed more than 100,000 au pairs from almost 60 countries. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Au Pair in America maintains offices in five countries with a network of more than 600 employees worldwide.

Visit Community Service Winners to learn more about the recipients of the 2017 Au Pair Community Service Awards, or see our announcement on the Au Pair in America host family blog.

For more information about Au Pair in America, visit www.aupairinamerica.com.

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The nation’s first and largest au pair program, Au Pair in America combines live-in child care and cultural exchange for a mutually rewarding and enriching experience for the entire family. Au Pair in America receives applicants come from nearly 60 countries. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Au Pair in America maintains offices in five countries with a network of more than 600 employees worldwide.