ATLANTA -- Georgia students in grades 5-12 are encouraged to apply for the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

The awards program began searching for its next batch of honorees this week. Recipients of the award are young people who have made meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service.

"We have been recognizing youth volunteers since 1995 and still, every year, we're amazed by the stories of exemplary community service," Prudential chairman and CEO John Strangfeld said in a statement. "We look forward to honoring the top youth volunteers of 2013 for their selflessness, their initiative and their dedication to changing communities for the better."

ATLANTA -- Enjoy a cool treat and help kids in need at the same time on Dairy Queen's Miracle Treat Day.

On Thursday, June 26, the fast food chain will donate one dollar from every Blizzard Treat sold to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, which provides funding for 170 children's hospitals in North America.

Learn more at miracletreatday.com.

ATLANTA -- Smoothie King locations across metro Atlanta are spending the entire month of June raising money for Bert's Big Adventure.

PHOTOS | Bert's Big Adventure 2012

Customers who give $1 to the non-profit will receive a $2 "bounce back" coupon from Smoothie King.

The goal is to raise at least $5,000 by the end of the month.

Bert's Big Adventure, which was founded by Bert Weiss of Q100's "The Bert Show," sends children with chronic and terminal illnesses on an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World.

Metro Atlanta has a number of Smoothie King shops:

Alpharetta
* 12280 Houze Road
* 5530 Windward Parkway, Suite 320

Athens
* 1591 South Lumpkin Street
* 2361 West Broad Street