Jefferson Awards Foundation Celebrates 45 Years of Powering Public Service
New York, NY (PRWEB) December 07, 2016 -- The Jefferson Awards Foundation (JAF), the nation’s most prestigious and longest-standing organization dedicated to public service, is celebrating 45 years of powering those who change the world.
Forty-five years ago, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft, Jr., and Sam Beard set out to unite the country in service by celebrating extraordinary Americans. They believed that public service not only improves communities, but also transforms the lives of those who participate by offering the skills that drive success in school and throughout life. In reflecting about the organization’s history, co-founder & president Sam Beard said, “The country’s founding principal is service. Neighbors helping neighbors. Jackie was inspired by the joy of giving back. To keep the American dream alive, giving back is our responsibility.”
Throughout its rich history, the organization has trained more than 20,000 young people to become leaders in their own communities and honored more than 60,000 grassroots unsung heroes. From equipping young change-makers to scale their service ideas, to honoring lifelong public servants like Oprah Winfrey, Paul Newman, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Jefferson Awards Foundation celebrates the very best of America and inspires greater civic action.
“I’m tremendously proud of what the Jefferson Awards Foundation has achieved over the last forty-five years,” said Hillary Schafer, Executive Director of the Jefferson Awards Foundation. “With celebration at the heart of our organization, we have inspired generations of Americans in every corner of our country to realize the ways public service can transform lives, including their own.”
In honor of 45 years of powering others to have maximum impact on the things they care about most, JAF is launching its #45for45 campaign, with the goal of raising $45,000 to support their efforts to activate and celebrate public service. The campaign will run from December 7, 2016 through the first week of January. To get involved and for more information go to: bit.ly/JAF45for45.
About the Jefferson Awards Foundation
The Jefferson Awards Foundation is the country’s most prestigious and longest standing organization dedicated to powering and celebrating public service. JAF’s programs accelerate and amplify service, training and activating Americans to take action, and to be leaders in schools, communities, workplaces and the world. With celebration, JAF says thank you, shares the stories of America’s best citizens, empowering them to do more and inspiring all to take action. To learn more about the Jefferson Awards Foundation, visit: JeffersonAwards.org or engage with our community on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Molly Linehan, Belle Communications, +1 603-508-1097, [email protected]
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