The Jefferson Awards
Each year Team Con Paulos co-sponsors the Jefferson Awards with Neuhoff Communications. This award is for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Local Communities.
The Jefferson Awards are a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public service in America. The Jefferson Awards are presented on two levels: national and local.
They began in 1972 to create a Nobel Prize for public service. Today, their primary purpose is to serve as a "Call to Action for Volunteers" in local communities.
The Challenge:
The Carnegie Endowment and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, among many others, are concerned that America's tradition of civic engagement is eroding. They see a startling decline in the number of citizens joining hands to address community needs.
From the beginning, the Jefferson Awards has been based on a simple idea. One of the most powerful ideas in the world. One person can make a difference. That is the heart of democracy at work.
A Call to Action for Volunteers
In response, the Jefferson Awards is creating a "Call to Action" for volunteers.
Through the media, we're inspiring COMMUNITIES.
Through Jefferson Awards Champions, we're energizing WORKPLACES.
Through The Youth Service Initiative, we're engaging SCHOOLS.
Selection Process
To select the national winners in our four national categories, the Jefferson Awards reaches out and invites anyone to nominate. At our November meeting, the Board votes to determine the five finalists is each category. The full Board of Selectors chooses the annual winners.
To select our local winners, each Media Partner, each Champion and each Youth Service community has a local selection committee. The Jefferson Awards Board of Selectors chooses one winner from each to attend and be honored at the National Ceremony in June. The Board of Selectors chooses the five Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis winners, the two winning Champions, and the top Youth Service school.
