In 1972, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard founded the American Institute for Public Service, a 501c3 public foundation, to establish a Nobel Prize for public and community service-The Jefferson Awards.

            The Jefferson Awards are presented on two levels: national and local. National award recipients represent a “ Who’s Who” of outstanding Americans. On the local level, Jefferson Awards recipients are ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward.

            In 1977, 12 newspapers and television stations began the Jefferson Awards Media Partnership. The Media Partnership seeks out grassroots “Unsung Heros.” They take on the role of administering the program across the country.

            In 1989, thanks to George Ball, Prudential-Bache underwrote the 1^st Jefferson Awards National Television Special. The show ran in 77 markets and was chaired by Richard Anderson of “Six Million Dollar Man”.

            In 1997, the Jefferson Awards celebrated their 25^th Anniversary. Honorary Co-Chairs were President Bush, Carter, Clinton, and Ford. Emcees were Lesley Stahl and Michael Keaton, of Batman fame.

           By April 2004, The Jefferson Awards had 147 media partners in 93 communities. This is the nation's largest media partnership highlighting service to America.