Jefferson Awards Media (Palo Alto Patch)

Reposted from http://paloalto.patch.com/announcements/stanford-student-wins-2013-jeffe...

Stanford student wins 2013 Jefferson Award
Posted by Michael Knowles
March 5, 2013

New York, March 6, 2013 – Known as the “Nobel Prize for public service,” the Jefferson Awards honored The Robin Hood Foundation with this year’s top prize at the Jefferson Awards New York National Ceremony: the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award. Hailed by Fortune magazine as “one of the most innovative and influential philanthropic organizations of our time,” Robin Hood has donated $1.25 billion dollars since 1988 to end poverty in New York City.

Recipients of the “Globechangers” youth service award included a Yale University senior whose international non-profit Girls Helping Girls has trained and mentored thousands of girls worldwide to incubate entrepreneurial projects in more than twenty countries, a 22 year old coder whose organization Code The Change has generated over $250,000 worth of value for the social sector, and a Pittsburgh teenager whose military veteran-focused group Seeds of Hope is expanding nationwide.

Stanford student Sam King created and leads Code the Change, a national organization that creates “Code Jams:” events to engage computer science students in meaningful programming projects to benefit nonprofit organizations. What makes Code the Change truly innovative is its national network and connectivity to campuses across the country. Projects started at one Code Jam campus can be continued, completed or modified at another. To this end, Code the Change is forming a national network of schools, connecting computer scientists with nonprofits. Since 2009, Code the Change has generated over $250,000 worth of value for the social sector.

NFL defensive tackle Marty Lyons was honored for Outstanding Service by a Professional Athlete. Dedicated to reaching out to terminally ill children, the Marty Lyons Foundation has granted over 6,000 wishes since its founding and expanded throughout twelve states. The award for Outstanding Service by an Entrepreneur went to Gerald Chertavian, whose organization Year Up provides professional training to low-income youth.

Founded by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard, and now celebrating its 40th anniversary year, the Jefferson Awards honor extraordinary individuals and companies whose profound achievements and commitment to their communities are making the world a better place to live.

“This year’s Jefferson Awards recipients have made real and lasting differences in the lives of countless people across the United States,” said Sam Beard, the Jefferson Awards President.