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The Jefferson Awards Foundation was created in 1972 by the American Institute for Public Service and was founded by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard. The foundation was created to "power others to have a maximum impact on the things they care about most." They strive to inspire action through celebration and acknowledgement, while cultivating an attitude of service. They have multiple programs and partnerships that encourage youth and adults to be of service in their communities and around the world. It is their goal to celebrate these great achievements of selflessness and service while encouraging others to join in and make an impact where they can.
The Jefferson Awards Foundation honors individuals on a local and national level. The foundation partners with many different local media outlets to reach over 100 million Americans via those partnerships. For example our own local news outlet WXOW is one of the media outlets who partners with the foundation to nominate and award individuals committed to bettering their communities. Follow this link to see the interview Stephanie had with WXOW.
http://www.wxow.com/story/35700617/2017/06/Monday/jefferson-award-winner-volunteers-despite-living-with-rare-genetic-disease
We are so proud of Stephanie for the many selfless acts of service that she facilitates and engages in. She strives to serve her community in many different ways and expects nothing back for her work. Stephanie is a remarkable woman and a great role model. In her interview she discussed her own personal struggle with the rare genetic disease she lives with, Ehler's Danlos Syndrome. Ehler's Danlos is a rare genetic disease in which a person has hyper flexible joints that can hyper extend or dislocate at any moment. Stephanie received treatment free of cost through the Shriner's Hospital for Children in the Twin Cities. She mentions in her interview that her family was never asked to pay anything back, but they could pay it forward, and that's the mentality Stephanie has had as she moves through her life.
Stephanie has truly impacted many lives through the various charities, causes, and organizations shes been involved with. A few of her service achievements include hosting a rummage sale for New Leash on Life animal rescue, running a school supplies drive at Brilliant Bodywork, participating in Steppin' Out in Pink, volunteering her time as Princess Elsa and visiting the children currently at the Shriner's hospital. Also she heads up a committee that focuses on volunteering with the Shriner's hospital. She hosted Homecoming for Haven, she put together a dance and party for Haven Dulek, a Minnesota high school girl who was denied attending her own schools homecoming due to a medical condition. Sponsoring the Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Pageant and honoring her late grandmothers with the Spirit of Community Scholarship Fund awarded to one of the the pageant contestants who meets the criteria. Helping to raise scholarship money for the Miss Onalaska Pageant by donating time and an auction item to the Miss Onalaska Style Show Fundraiser. Led a group in collecting and packing over 100 shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. Also, Stephanie and her husband Adam are grenadiers with the local Oktoberfest Organization and participate in many local volunteer opportunities through the fest organization. These are just a few of the many charitables acts Stephanie is involved in, we are so proud of all her achievements and all the ways she serves her community.
Here are a few links to some of the featured blog posts we've done regarding different service opportunities-
Miss Onalaska Style Show-
http://stephanieandresen.wixsite.com/brilliantbodyblog/single-post/2017/04/17/Miss-Onalaska-Style-Show-Fundraiser
Operation Christmas Child-
http://stephanieandresen.wixsite.com/brilliantbodyblog/single-post/2016/11/11/Shoe-box-Packing-Party-for-Operation-Christmas-Child
Spirit of Community Scholarship-
http://stephanieandresen.wixsite.com/brilliantbodyblog/single-post/2016/09/30/Spirit-of-Community-and-Miss-La-CrosseOktoberfest-Pageant
Positive Chalk Mantras-
http://stephanieandresen.wixsite.com/brilliantbodyblog/single-post/2016/06/17/Positive-Chalk-Mantras