Jefferson Awards

Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement

2013 Jefferson Awards - Open for Nominations

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is pleased to open nominations for ’The Jefferson Awards’ for our seventh year. Our local program was developed to spotlight "Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement." It is important for the County to have recognition programs, such as Jefferson Awards, to recognize those wonderful people and organizations who form the bedrock of our fabulous community. We hope you will participate by nominating an individual, a non-profit agency, board, commission, or advisory body, who you think has best demonstrated, "Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement" in our local community. Nominations are due to Human Resources by August 9, 2013.

• CAO Letter Announcing Jefferson Awards 2013 (PDF: 127 kB)
• Jefferson Awards Brochure (PDF: 584 kB)
• Jefferson Awards Nomination Criteria
• Jefferson Awards Nomination Form (Word: 43 kB)

About the Jefferson Awards Program

The Jefferson Awards Program 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 Bobby Kennedy. More information about the national program can be found on the Jefferson Awards website.

Locally, the program was adopted by the County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors. After an analysis of other local recognition programs, the County’s program was designed to highlight the value of non profit organizations, boards, commissions and advisory bodies, as well as individual efforts for Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement.

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

The County encourages and applauds existing volunteer recognition programs. The Jefferson Awards will serve to further highlight the strength of our community and promote engagement in solving community problems.

2012 Jefferson Awards Recipients

Congratulations to the 2012 Jefferson Awards honorees! The following honorees were selected from among a large group of nominees who all represent our community. These individuals and organizations demonstrate volunteerism, civic engagement, and community leadership; valued characteristics of our citizens. On Tuesday, March 27, 2012, the County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors presented the prestigious Jefferson Award to the following individuals and organizations:

Oscar Chavez

Oscar Chavez, one of the County’s strongest leaders on pressing community issues, in particular on poverty, education, and health. He possesses an unfailing commitment and energy, combined with strategic vision and dedication to collaboration to pull together a broad base of stakeholders. Mr. Chavez has demonstrated leadership and, through his position as Executive Director of Community Action Partnership, will continue to provide critical direction, confidence, and inspiration in addressing these issues in our community for years to come.

Rick Dean

Rick Dean, whose leadership, as Executive Director of Face to Face over the last 25 years, has brought together and nurtured local, state, and national resources to fight the HIV epidemic and support those living with HIV/AIDS. Mr. Dean has also developed relationships with individuals, groups, coalitions, and officials to garner additional efforts. He has dedicated himself to HIV/AIDS services and has worked tirelessly to ensure that the HIV-positive community has resources to live and die with dignity and humanity.

The Ceres Community Project

The Ceres Community Project, who since 2007, has provided more than 100,000 meals, prepared by more than 500 teen volunteers who work with adult mentors; and nutritional education to individuals and families struggling with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The Ceres Project, under the direction of Cathryn Couch, has made significant changes in clients, as well as the youth’s lives, inspiring others to take on the challenge of reaching thousands with the goal of improving health through nutritional education and healthy food.

Chop’s Teen Club

Chop’s Teen Club, whose mission it is to provide a safe and fun environment where teens can be themselves and together have the freedom to explore who they are. Chop’s, under the direction of Diana Curtin, provides a recreation and program facility where teens, ages 12 to 18, can find a safe place to connect and interact with staff members trained in youth development, and where they can participate in a number of programs designed to challenge, engage and inspire youth to excel, succeed, and to become strong and positive community members.

Healthy Kids Sonoma County

Healthy Kids Sonoma County, whose mission serves to protect and improve the health of children in our community by increasing the number of children enrolled in public health insurance programs. Under the direction of Pedro Toledo, Healthy Kids of Sonoma County, has increased services, ensuring that thousands more children and families could enroll into health services, improving their access to primary care and preventive health services at a time when families have needed assistance the most. The program’s success has made Sonoma County one of the only counties in the State that has fewer uninsured children now than it did before the recession.

Past Jefferson Award Recipients:

• 2011: California Parenting Institute, Francine Condon, Dr. Bo Greaves, Jeffery Heller Ed.D., Dr. Michael Kozart
• 2010: Angelo Fazzi, Food for Thought, Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire, Kay Marquet, NAMI of Sonoma County
• 2009: Becoming Independent, Alexandra & Melissa Carlson, Canine Companions for Independence, Linda Lavery & Keith Travinsky

The County of Sonoma is proud of and grateful to these individuals and organizations for their outstanding service to our community. They exemplify the spirit of the Jefferson Award for Public Service in their Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement.

Contact Information

Name:

Sylvia Lemus

Title:

HR Programs Coordinator

Phone:

(707) 565-1702 Work

Fax:

(707) 565-3770 Fax

Email:

sylvia.lemus@sonoma-county.org