Honoring outstanding volunteers
The United Way of Greater Lima, The Lima News, Your Hometown Stations, Cenovus, Milano Café and Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center work cooperatively to bring the Jefferson Awards to Lima/Allen County and its contiguous counties.
From all nominations submitted, up to eight adult applications and up to four youth applications will be selected as the 2025 Jefferson Award winners. The selections will be made by a panel of area leaders and past Jefferson Awards winners. Each winner will receive a Jefferson Awards bronze medallion at a banquet on March 25, 2025.
The family of Alberta Lee, a civic leader who believed in volunteerism and public service, sponsors the monetary awards to accompany the Jefferson Award medallions for up to eight adult winners, who will each receive $350 for the nonprofit of their choice. James E. and Sandra Monfort (both past winners) are the monetary sponsors for up to four youth winners, who will each receive $250 for the nonprofit of their choice. One of the local winners will receive an additional $700 for the organization for which they volunteer.
Nomination deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025
Click here to download the nomination form, or fill it out below.
Eligibility
• Individuals of all ages may be nominated for the Jefferson Awards. Groups are not eligible, however, individuals from groups may be nominated. The exception is that married couples or two people who have worked closely on a project may be nominated.
• The volunteer work must be done in the following counties: Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Hancock, Putnam or Van Wert. The volunteer must reside in one of those six counties.
• As of 1/1/2025 an individual who is over the age of 19 will be eligible for the adult award, and any youth 18 and under will be eligible for the youth award.
• Individuals are not eligible for cash awards.
• Cash awards must be made payable to qualifying non-profit organizations registered with the Ohio Secretary of State or be a political subdivision of the state as described in 107 (c)(1), such as a public school or government agency. If the organization for which the winner volunteers is not eligible for a cash award, another qualifying agency may be selected.
• Top 12 winners are eligible for re-nomination five years after their original nomination.
• Volunteer service may be performed on work-release time or for student course credit.
Jefferson Awards History
The American Institute for Public Service, now known as the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard to establish a national recognition for, and encouragement of, outstanding community and public service.
On the local level, Jefferson Award recipients are volunteers who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward. Past local representatives to the National Program include Estella Adams, Penny Daniels, Shannon Mitchell, Chris Jackson, Dan Endicott, Dr. Gene Wright, Andrea Mitchell, Sandy Monfort, Marjorie Bryan, Timothy Macke, Randy Kohli, Bobbie Nevarez, Steve and Earlene Sellers, Rachael and Cameron Staley, Lauren Cunningham, Angela Herzog, Greg Bukowski, Paul Bonifas and David Bates.
