News 12 Staff

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Jun 13, 2024, 10:22 PM

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Updated

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A North Bergen fifth grader won first place in the fifth annual kindness speech contest.

When he was just 9 years old, Warren Pinnawalage did a TEDx talk on bullying, and he already won the Presidential Volunteer Gold Service award.

Pinnawalage volunteers with the VFW and is a two-time Boys Scout Pinewood Derby winner.

He attends the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in North Bergen and is a member of the school choir, band and climate committee.

Pinnawalage says he takes pride in spreading kindness and motivating others.