The Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Travelers Protective Association of America Post L held its annual Altruism Award banquet event April 14 at Northampton Banquet and Event Center, 1601 Laubach Ave.

The fraternal benefit society honored select students from 15 local high schools to receive the award for their kind, courageous and giving personalities.

TPA Post L was established in 1882 and originally benefited traveling salesmen across America. Over time, the society extended its membership to all persons who qualified as preferred risks and began to implement community outreach programs, such as the famous Child Accident Prevention Week, seen across the nation’s emergency responder units.

The society has also organized scholarships that would aim to assist members in need, such as the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Scholarship Fund. Established in 1975, the fund intended to serve those who had a hearing deficiency but lacked proper resources. Today, the fund has gone on to assist thousands of members gain access to the hearing devices and specialized treatment they lacked.

During the banquet, Patricia Palencar, secretary of the TPA’s Lehigh Valley chapter, explained the students receiving the Altruism Award would be given a certificate and a $100 check from President Donald D. Schwartz. The funding for the prizes are from the TPA’s general fund.

The students also received a small speech from their nominator explaining what led to their nomination.

Grant Heimbecker, of Catasauqua High School, was nominated by Adam Schnug, principal, and Tara Roseman, guidance counselor, to receive TPA Post L’s Altruism Award for his work within the community and his giving character.

Heimbecker works with Community Partners 4 Kids, an anti-human-trafficking organization focused on child safety.

He also serves as president of the high school’s Future Business Leaders of America club and has participated in the Debate Club all four years of high school.

He was selected to serve on a Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education as a student representative.

After high school, he will continue his education at Penn State University, Lehigh Valley, with an intended major in business.

Heimbecker was described as someone who is humble and kind and will be greatly missed at CHS.

The students honored at the banquet reminded the room that simple acts of kindness touch the hearts of many and create impactful and inspiring change within the community. The room was humbled by the courageous acts performed by high school students, and many left feeling honored to know that strong, genuine characters would go on to be the next societal generation to build and create a better tomorrow.