EDITORIAL\Young people who care\High school students pitch in to help severely injured youth.

WITH survey after survey spewing out grim statistics about youth and their futures, pointing to crime, drugs and gang violence, it is truly encouraging to hear about some of the good things that young people do.

Take the case of former Crespi High School student Mark Fuglevand, who broke his neck while body surfing off Malibu last August. Fuglevand, 18, was left a quadriplegic. He had just finished high school and was planning to attend California State University, Northridge, to study civil engineering.

Then Fuglevand's friends and former classmates stepped in. Recognizing some of the challenges that he would be facing, the student councils at Louisville High School in Woodland Hills and Crespi High School in Encino organized a fund for Fuglevand so that he could buy himself a computer tailored to his special needs.

Students held a benefit dance and asked for donations from alumni. By bringing neighboring Catholic school communities together, they were able to raise $7,000 for Fuglevand's computer fund.

And if that isn't enough to puncture some of the stereotypes about young people these days, consider what Fuglevand said:

"If I could share a few words with people, I would say not to take what you have for granted. Little things like brushing your teeth, walking, combing your hair, being able to dress yourself - we don't realize how lucky we are to be able to do that."

Mark Fuglevand is lucky to have so many caring friends. Further, the communities where these young people live and graced by their presence.