Nominations Sought for 2013 Jefferson Awards

Sonoma County press release 

The Jefferson Awards is a national recognition system designed to highlight public service in America.  The Jefferson Awards began as part of the American Institute for Public Service in 1972 and was established by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr., and Sam Beard, a staffer to the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. 

Locally, the program was adopted by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and was designed to highlight the value of nonprofit organizations, boards, commissions and advisory bodies, as well as individual efforts for ‘Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement.’  Some of our past awardees include: Becoming Independent, Food for Thought, California Parenting Institute, and the Ceres Community Project.

Regionally, media partners such as KPIX-CBS 5 TV and KCBS-AM have been promoting the Jefferson Awards throughout the Bay Area.  Several bay area counties and cities along with many non-profit organizations participate by holding their own local programs and then submitting nominees to the regional competition. 

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chair David Rabbitt commented, “We ask the community to join the Board of Supervisors to honor the extraordinary people and programs that serve our community. We look forward to presenting Jefferson Awards to those that exhibit excellence in civic leadership and engagement.”

Any member of the community can nominate an individual, non-profit agency, board, commission, or advisory body.  To obtain nomination criteria, materials and further information please visit www.sonoma-county.org and click on the Jefferson Awards icon.

The final submission date for 2013 Jefferson Award nominations is Friday, August 9, 2013.