JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Boy Scout oath begins with the words: “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times.”

Helping other people is what soon-to-be Eagle Scout Daniel Lichlyter is all about.  The 17-year-old Ponte Vedra High School senior decided he wanted to help the kids at the Children’s Home Society and make a difference

For his Eagle Scout project, this ambitious teenager noticed that the basketball court at the facility off San Diego Road in St. Nicholas was in need of repair. It was in such bad shape that the children served by CHS who are waiting to be adopted or placed in foster care didn’t play on it.

So Daniel organized a group of volunteers and arranged for two local contractors to donate supplies and materials to get the job done.

“I can’t take all the credit,” Daniel said. “There are some 50 other volunteers who helped me.”

After some 120 man-hours of work, the newly-resurfaced court was ready for play.

“After Daniel completed resurfacing the court we saw kids come out to play that wouldn’t even set foot on it before,” said Courtney Hunter, philanthropy director for the Children’s Home Society.  Playing basketball is therapeutic and now, thanks to Daniel, they use it all the time,” Hunter said.

“It blew my mind. It’s amazing,” Daniel said when he saw the finished court.

Daniel, who was honored Friday with WJXT’s Positively Jax award for August, was humble but thankful he could make a difference.

Originally posted by News4Jax.com