ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Nine students from across Monroe County were honored for their brave actions, generosity, and good deeds for the Do the Right Thing awards.

Carter Blondell, a third grader at Rochester Classical Academy, received the award for donating instead of keeping money that he found.

Blondell was nominated by school principal Katie Curtis after he found $150 in cash in the bushes during recess. He turned the money in and suggested that it should be donated to a church.

“It wasn’t mine and I didn’t want to take something that wasn’t mine,” Carter said.

The school and the church were so impressed by his actions that they decided to throw him and his classmates a pizza party.

Nominations are open year-round for the Do the Right Thing Award. Any student in grades K-12 in a Monroe County school is eligible for a nomination. The good deed must have occurred within one year of the nomination. Anyone over 18 years of age can submit a nomination form including family, friends, school staff, and coaches.

The Rochester Police Department has held The Do the Right Thing awards since 1995. You can learn more about nominating a student here.