St. Marguerite d'Youville Secondary School student Daniel Francavilla is an active member of his school, church and global community.

The 18-year-old is a recipient of the 2007 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award. Lt.-Gov.

David Onley presented Francavilla with the award during recent ceremonies at Queen's Park.

This year there were 120 nominees from across the province for the award presented to youth committed to bettering themselves and community through selfless acts of service. Francavilla is one of 12 recipients for the 2007 award.

The local teenager is a tireless philanthropist. He established a charity called ACCESS, an acronym for Allowing Children a Chance at Education with School Supplies. His goal is to provide needy children in developing countries with school supplies and uniforms so they have access education.

For those living in developing communities, an education can be a crucial key to finding a decent job and supporting a family, the young man believes.

He has raised more than $20,000 to help children in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Columbia. Last fall, he raised enough money to renovate a playground and construct a shelter at a school in Columbia so children had something to do during recess.

Francavilla started the charity following a trip to the Dominican Republic in 2006. He recalled meeting local children who expressed a desire for education, but were living in poverty and couldn't afford the supplies needed to attend school.

When he came home, the high school senior encouraged members of his school and church community to make donations.

This first fundraising effort raised $8,500. The money was sent to the Dominican Republic to buy school uniforms for children.

He continues the campaign through community presentations. Armed with a slideshow from his Dominican trip and a powerful speech, Francavilla visits elementary schools and reveals the reality of the island community outside the walls of vacation resorts.

He has also designed a Web site to help his cause. His charity can be found online at www.accesscharity.ca.

Francavilla still finds time to pursue his passion as a graphic and Web designer. He won a gold medal in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board's Skills Competition and a bronze in the provincial competition.

He takes on design projects through his business Daniel Design and records aspects of life and exploits on his own Web site at www.danielfrancavilla.com.

He has also written for the Toronto Star's Global Voices and is a member of the Mayor's Youth Team. Francavilla hopes to become a teacher, graphic designer and charity worker- aspirations he is well on his way to fulfilling.