CBS 12's Extraordinary People: Vero Beach Eagle Scout raises thousands for charity

Story By: Michele Wright / CBS 12 News
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Boy Scouts of America provides an avenue for boys to develop character, leadership skills, teamwork, health and fitness. CBS 12's Michele Wright introduces us to a young man who was awarded top honors by the group.

Joseph Granberg: It was a great feeling knowing that I made Eagle Scout. Worked very hard on it. It just felt great.

Meet Joesph Granberg. This 14-year-old young achiever lives in Vero Beach with his family. However Joe is no ordinary teenager, he is a proud Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scout program. Here's the cool part, only two-percent of Boy Scouts typically make it. Receiving their awards around age 17. Joe was just 13-years-old. Although determined with Troop 567, he tells us this was no easy task.

Joseph Granberg: One of the requirements is an Eagle Scout service project you have to plan it out and do it with volunteers and mine was to power wash and paint the Red Cross building.

With more than 26 volunteers who helped and local businesses who donated materials, they finished the project together saving the Red Cross more than $2,000. Joe tells us through his journey of "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle" he's learned a lot and he hopes to continue to inspire others to help those in need. As part of the process he became somewhat of a local celebrity in writing to Senator Marco Rubio.

Joseph Granberg: For citizenship and the community merit badge one of the requirements is you have to write to one of your senators. So I wrote to Marco Rubio and he responded back and it was great.

Most of all, Joe says he is truly thankful for his family, Al, Amy, Ashley. His brother Ray also an Eagle Scout and little brother Jimmy who is following in their footsteps. Giving back to the community is a family affair. They all volunteer with the American Red Cross.

With over 560 volunteers, Lisa Piziomek is a Disaster Specialist with the North Treasure Coast chapter who worked closely with Joe on this extraordinary community effort.

Lisa Piziomek: They have to decide the project, come up with a plan, do this book, get it approved, raise the funds, get the volunteers. He was able to pull it off, make it happen. It was impressive to watch him. I feel like he's an extraordinary person. Truly an inspiration and I look forward to working with him in the future. They are truly a family that makes a difference in the community.

If you know an extraordinary person or extraordinary people making a positive difference in South Florida, email Michele Wright at mwright@cbs12.com or submit your nomination on-line below. We'd love to hear about it.

CLICK HERE to fill out a submission formCBS 12's Extraordinary People: Vero Beach Eagle Scout raises thousands for charity

Friday, February 15 2013, 03:25 PM EST