A young Corner Brook woman is being recognized with a YMCA Peace Medallion for her work as a Princess Anna impersonator.

Maria Park has spent the past year dressing up as the popular Frozen character and visiting birthday parties and special events across town.

I figured that while I make some kids here smile, I can make some kids somewhere else smile too. - Maria Park

But unlike most teenagers with a part-time job, she donates all proceeds from each event to charity.

The award will be given out as part of the Humber Community YMCA's Peace Week.

"Instead of keeping all the money for myself, I donate it to the Women's Empowerment International Foundation (WEIF) to help kids education in Bihar," said Park.

"I figured that while I make some kids here smile, I can make some kids somewhere else smile too."

Although it would have only been natural for Park to have kept the proceeds, she doesn't see it that way.

"Something just felt inherently wrong about it in my heart," she said

"I wouldn't be able to look at those kids that I was making smile, knowing that I would take their parents' $50 and go off to the mall. That just felt wrong."

Doing her part to help others in need

All proceeds from Park's 'Frozen' events are donated to the Women's Empowerment International Foundation and used towards children's education in Bahir, India. (Submitted )

Park said she's conscious that not everyone has been as lucky in life as she has, and that she wanted to do her small part to make sure that others would get a chance to succeed too.

Beyond dressing up as Princess Anna, she's is also heavily involved in the community.

It was actually her work on another campaign that first caught the YMCA's eye.

Christine Young, Humber Community YMCA CEO, said she witnessed Park's selfless community spirit first-hand over the summer.

One day, Park entered the YMCA office carrying a full assortment of boxes filled with school supplies for the YMCA's after-school program.

"It was just such a thoughtful and generous gesture, that it made Maria kind of stick in our head," said Young.

"Peace Week instantly came into our mind."

Honoured to win the award

The fact that they think all these wonderful things and are recognizing me with this peace medallion, it's unbelievable. - Maria Park

Park says she's honoured that the YMCA has chosen to award her the Peace Medallion.

"I went to their after-school program at École C.C. Loughlin all the way from Grades 1 to 6 and they really shaped my life in a way that I can't imagine," she said.

"The fact that they think all these wonderful things and are recognizing me with this peace medallion, it's unbelievable."

No plans to slow down

While Park will receive the medallion tonight, she has no plans to slow down her non-for-profit business.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Humber Community YMCA in Corner Brook will award Maria Park with a peace medallion for her work (Submitted ) She'll be appearing at an event this weekend as Princess Anna, and is taking further bookings online.

"I'm still available for doing lots of parties, if anyone is interested."