To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we’re showing love to a few of our past Jefferson Award recipients whose service initiatives should be added to Cupid’s quiver.
Justin Bedi – 2013 Champion Winner
Open Heart Magic
Growing up in a family of physicians, Justin Bedi has always been acutely aware of the emotional and physical hardships that families who do not have good health deal with. Since college, Justin has donated his time and energy to organizations that ease the pain and suffering of children who have cancer and other diseases. Through Open Heart Magic, an organization using magic to provide hospitalized children a fun break and escape from the stress of their illnesses, Justin serves others with health challenges. This is especially important to Justin and has enabled him to work with these children one-on-one and help alleviate their suffering through magic.
Payton & Reagan – 2018 LEAD360 Winners
Buckets of Love
These two Delaware based sisters decided to spread the love one bucket at a time. Their LEAD360 winning service project, Buckets of Love, was created to give encouragement and support to kids going through tough times. The buckets are packed with age-appropriate toys for kids ages 2-12 years old. In 2018, after winning the Jefferson Awards Foundation LEAD360 Challenge, Payton and Reagan were able to partner with Multiplying Good (formerly The Jefferson Awards Foundation) to packed 6,500 buckets for kids across the country.
Dr. Kit Ford – 2019 JKO Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Local Communities
Dr. Kit Ford founded Argrow’s House in 2017, following a traumatic and violent sexual assault. She realized that there was a need for a safe space where women who had been assaulted could come and heal. There are support groups, Bible studies, financial classes, cooking classes, and holistic services like art therapy, massage, yoga, and more. Argrow’s House is also a social enterprise – “a bath and body business where women healing from violence and abuse create beautiful bath products that provide a living wage for themselves in a safe space that celebrates who they are.” The products are handmade in Argrow’s House's kitchen, then sold online and in stores across the area.
Joshua Williams – 2014 LEAD360 Winner
Joshua’s Heart Foundation
In 2014, 13-year-old Joshua Williams received a Jefferson Award in recognition of his nonprofit, Joshua’s Heart Foundation. His nonprofit, which he founded at the age of four, is dedicated to the fight against global hunger and poverty. When we celebrated Joshua’s impact, he donated 600,000 pounds of food donated, has served 120,000 meals, raised over $350,000, and has taught countless low-income families how to prepare a healthy meal.
Christan Rainey – 2019 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Local Communities
We're honored to introduce you to Christan Rainey, an advocate for stopping the cycle of domestic violence. Christan was nominated for a Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis award by our Media Partner, WCIV | ABC News 4' in South Carolina. Christan is a Captain with the North Charleston Fire Department and the CEO and Founder of Men Against Domestic Violence. Since his mom’s husband killed his mother and four siblings, Christan talks with middle and high school students about the dangers of teen dating violence.