His name is a familiar chant at Levittown community events.

Whether he's up to his knees in mulch and mud or wielding a hose aimed teasingly at his grandmother, Patrick Ryan's presence and hard work have been a constant at Levittown Community Council beautification projects, the holiday tree decorating and lighting, the graffiti fence painting project and other council events.

Patrick's ability to mix hard work with fun has made him a welcomed participant at these events and has earned him the Levittown Community Council's Junior Volunteer of the Year Award.

The 9-year-old, Abbey Lane fourth grader has faithfully accompanied his paternal grandparents Peter and Donna Ryan to these activities since the council first began doing cleanups in the fall of 1998.

"I often told Patrick that he had more volunteer hours logged for Levittown than many adults who live in the community," says Louise Cassano, president of the Levittown Community Council. "Then, it occurred to me that the council should be rewarding this kind of behavior since volunteer participation by all of our residents is something the council encourages."

"The board of directors agreed," Cassano continues, "and we've established an annual award to recognize a young person who contributes to the work of the council and, thereby, to the community of Levittown. We will be setting up a committee to seek the talents of young people in anticipation of next year's award winner."

The Junior Volunteer of the Year Award, which recognizes commitment to volunteering time and service to the Levittown Community Council and to the community of Levittown, was presented to Patrick at the general meeting of the council on April 24, at the Levittown Public Library. On hand to recognize his accomplishment were his mom and dad, Bonnie and Timmy Ryan; his maternal grandmother, Louise Dishman; paternal grandparents, Peter and Donna Ryan; and his aunt, Tara Ryan; as well as members of the Wantagh-Levittown Volunteer Ambulance Corps for which the entire Ryan family has devoted countless hours of volunteer time and service.