Las Vegas, Nev. — Las Vegas resident Heather Wilder, recipient of a local Jefferson Award, was presented with a Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis award at the 38th Annual National Jefferson Awards celebration in Washington, D.C., last night.
The Jefferson Awards celebrate the decidedly American characteristic of giving back to the community, the nation and, in some cases, the world. Known as the “Nobel Prize for public service,” the awards were presented to 15 recipients from throughout the country whose lives, careers and volunteer activities embody the finest examples of public service in a range of human endeavors. The broad array of honorees include high-profile individuals who have dedicated the better part of their lives to public service, celebrated professional athletes, largely unheralded community-based volunteers, companies representing the pinnacle in corporate citizenship, and schools that best reflect the Jeffersonian ideals of citizen involvement.
The Awards begin locally and anyone can be nominated. In Las Vegas, a local committee reviews all nominations received to select 12 local winners. These 12 inspirational community members are celebrated at an awards event each year in Las Vegas where one of the honorees is chosen to represent Southern Nevada at the National Awards in Washington, D.C. That recipient is given an all expenses paid trip to the nation’s capitol to attend the event.
Heather was nominated by Tammy Wilder, the woman who took her in as a foster child and later adopted her.
“While most kids who grow up in foster care would rather forget their past, Heather uses her experiences to inspire kids currently in care,” Tammy said of her daughter. “She also engages others to assist her in advocating for better/stronger rights for foster children and energizes other to contribute to her cause.”
In her quest to help other children in the “system,” Heather has helped foster kids attend summer camp, held toy drives for the holiday season, and written and distributed booklets that help foster kids cope with their circumstances. She is a student at Cimarron High.
Heather joins four other “Unsung Heroes” from throughout the country receiving a Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis award. Given for extraordinary and selfless volunteer work, the honor recognizes Heather, 16, as a “leading voice for helping other foster kids, conveying as an author and public speaker her inspirational story of hope and triumph over adversity.” She is the first person from Las Vegas to be recognized at the national level as a Jefferson Award recipient.
The Jefferson Awards in Las Vegas are presented by Wells Fargo and Channel 13 Action News KTNV-TV.
“Wells Fargo has been a proud sponsor of the Jefferson Awards for the past eight years because it provides an opportunity to recognize members of our community who often don’t receive the praise they deserve,” said Kirk V. Clausen, Wells Fargo regional president in Nevada. “Heather’s commitment to other children in our community is so gracious and generous. We are proud to help recognize her for her tremendous and meaningful gifts to our community.”
“Heather is a remarkable young woman and we couldn’t be more proud of watching her receive this richly deserved honor,” said KTNV Vice President and General Manager Jim Prather. “She represents the giving spirit that is so pervasive in our community, a side of life here that our station is proud to recognize through these awards each year.”
KTNV is owned by Journal Broadcast Group.
About Journal Broadcast Group
Journal Broadcast Group owns and operates 33 radio stations and 13 television stations in 12 states and operates an additional television station under a local marketing agreement. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it is the broadcast business of Journal Communications Inc., a diversified media company with operations in publishing, radio and television broadcasting, interactive media and printing services.