Jefferson Award for Public Service

Geographic Scope: Greater Cincinnati area; local winners advance to national competition in Washington, D.C.

Focus Areas: Recognition of outstanding volunteerism and public service. Honors ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward. Recognizes individuals who have:

• Created a program that serves an unmet need
• Provided extraordinary service to an organization

Background: The Jefferson Award was created in 1972 by Cincinnati's own U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Sam Beard, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It is recognized as the Nobel Prize for public service and is presented annually to recipients in more than 90 cities in the United States.

Award Recognition: Winners are selected to represent Cincinnati at the national Jefferson Award Foundation ceremony in Washington, D.C. in June. National winners have received recognition including the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award.

Partners: The Rotary Club of Cincinnati partners with The Cincinnati Enquirer, Local 12 (WKRC-TV), and AIPS (American Institute of Public Service).

Contact Information:

• Rotary Club of Cincinnati
• P.O. Box 971
• Cincinnati, OH 45201
• Phone: 513-421-1080
• Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

Past Winners:

• 2015: Keith and Brooke Desserich (Founders of The Cure Starts Now) - also won National Jefferson Award
• 2016: Christine Neitzke and Ria Davidson (The Dragonfly Foundation)

Eligibility: Past non-winning applicants may be re-nominated.

Application Process

Step 1: Submit Nomination

• Nominations are submitted online through The Cincinnati Enquirer's online nomination form
• Visit cincinnati.com/jeffersonawards to submit nomination

Step 2: Selection

• Committee reviews nominations
• Three finalists are selected and honored at the annual luncheon ceremony
• One winner is announced at the ceremony

Nomination Deadline: Typically mid-February (most recent deadline: February 10, 2017 at 3:00 PM; February 12, 2016)

Award Ceremony: Typically held in early March at Rotary Club weekly meeting at Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel

National Advancement: Local winner travels to Washington, D.C. in June to compete for National Jefferson Award

Contact Committee Members (as of 2016):
Bud Dornette, Ron Ott, Doug Adams, Anthony Ricciardi, Laure Quinlivan, Jim Eichmann, Roni Luckenbill, Mark McKiernan, Lisa Schafer