Minnesota girl sends 100,000 Anne Frank-inspired bracelets across the world; earns $10,000 Young Hero Prize

Natalie Flaherty, a Minnesota teen is one of the recipients of the 2026 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. At just 12, the girl has been able to work towards and achieve something that generations before her struggled to. The Fairmont native founded 'I Stand With Anne', a campaign that aims to turn Holocaust remembrance into everyday action.Starting at the age of 10, Flaherty has been making bracelets that read "I Stand With Anne, Put a Stop to Hate," after reading Anne Frank's diary. She handed out her first bracelets that Halloween dressed as Anne Frank and going door to door, CBS affiliate KEYC reported. Since then, she has made 100,000 bracelets that have reached all 50 states and more than 50 countries.By 12, Flaherty has been able to work with museums, nonprofits and politicians to spread her message. She even pushed to bring a sapling of the Anne Frank chestnut tree to her hometown, which led to one being planted near Fairmont's high school. Natalie’s tree is one of only twenty Anne Frank trees planted across the country, including at the U.S. Capitol and 9/11 Memorial. In conjunction with the tree planting, she worked with local and state leaders to have May 29 declared ...