The new leader of the United Way Teen Help group has United Way in her blood.

This year’s president is Amanda Guizerix, a senior at Vicksburg High School who comes from a family of United Way supporters. Amanda’s older brother, Chris, was a longtime member of Teen Help, and her father, Skipper, is a banker who has been involved with the United Way for several years, at times serving as chairman of the group’s annual fund-raising campaign.

Amanda admits she was not excited to be a part of Teen Help when she joined in the seventh grade,

“My dad actually had to make me go,” she said, “but I never realized I would get into it as much as I did.”

By her sophomore year, her attitude had changed.

“A lot of the people on the staff were just so inspiring,” she said. “They worked so hard and they wanted to give back, and it became fun.”

Skipper Guizerix had a similar experience when the United Way asked him to be campaign chairman.

“I was flattered that they would approach me,” he said, “but I was worried about the time commitment and all the reasons you rationalize when turning them down.”

Try as he might, he couldn’t say no.

“They create a very good atmosphere, and the idea of doing something beyond yourself and doing something for people who really are in need means something.”

A favorite aspect of Teen Help for Amanda is that it is all-inclusive.

“There is a big diversity,” she said. “It is really cool to bring all those kids together because you will be sitting next to a kid wearing a Led Zeppelin T-shirt, and you look to your left and you see a kid wearing a Lil’ Wayne T-shirt,”

The group has 18 members from high schools across Warren County who perform volunteer deeds.

One of their projects is Granny Go Surfing, in which the teens help senior citizens navigate cell phones, the Internet and other technology.

Lauren Garrick, marketing director for United Way and adviser to Teen Help, said Amanda is a great leader.

Other new officers are: vice president Jalen Dagher, a Warren Central junior and the son of Magid and Henrietta Dagher; secretary Dominique Williams, a WC senior and the daughter of Dwayne Williams and Carmi Major; and treasurer LaNequia Brown, a Warren Central sophomore and the daughter of Kenny Brown and Angela Brown. Officers in Teen Help are elected annually by their peers.