Michigan Teen Wins Prestigious Environmental Prize

A Michigan teen earned a national honor while trying to impact her community in Ann Arbor positively. Isabelle Sutton grabbed the headlines after receiving the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

The Barron Prize, which author T.A. Barron founded in 2021, selects 25 honorees out of 500 applicants in Canada and the United States. It celebrates 25 inspiring young leaders yearly, including 15 top winners and 10 honorees.

The award's focus is to honor young people who are making positive impacts on their respective communities and the environment. Of the 550 young people honored by the Barron Prize since its inception, 321 have been young women, and 229 have been young men. The youngest winner of the award was just eight years old.

Sutton raises awareness with the JustIZZY brand

The award-giving body said their winners had raised more than $26 million for their respective causes, ranging from environmental projects to humanitarian efforts. Of the youths honored by the Barron Prize, 218 have done environmental service work, and 332 have done humanitarian service work.

Sutton started her mission back when she was in fifth grade, according to AAPS District News. She learned during that time about recycling as well as the pollution of plastic and the harm it brings to humans, animals and the entire planet.

Sutton is thrilled to receive the award, saying she is honored and excited. She added that it is an excellent opportunity to meet and learn about other kids her age who are also making a difference in the environment or just making a difference in general.

Sutton managed to raise awareness after creating her brand called JustIZZY. The 13-year-old makes products like greeting cards, ornaments, and biodegradable bracelets. The sale proceeds go to animal rescues such as The Bird Center of Washtenaw County and The Detroit Dog Rescue. Sutton has raised $8,000 thus far for those organizations.

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Sutton wants to shine a light on small nonprofits

Sutton said there are so many small nonprofits, and she thinks sometimes they get overlooked when people decide where to donate. Sutton added that she wanted to shine a light on some special nonprofits that are both important and interesting.

Sutton told WDET that the focus of the JustIZZY project right now is to have the Ann Arbor School Board limit the use of plastic single-use water bottles at school events and in the cafeteria. She has even reached out to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the hopes of reducing plastic usage in the state.

To support her worthwhile project, people can purchase items on Sutton's Etsy store called JustIZZYs.

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