The Jefferson Awards mission is to encourage and honor individuals for their achievements and contributions through public and community service. The Jefferson Awards are a well respected recognition system honoring individuals who perform community and public service. The Jefferson Awards are presented at both the national and local levels.
The local level recognizes individuals who are committed to improving their communities through volunteer and community services. The honorees are ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things, often without the expectation of recognition. Every neighborhood has “unsung heroes,” volunteers who go above and beyond their expected duties. Together they make their neighborhoods and communities a better place to live.
The Jefferson Awards are committed to strengthening the spirit of volunteering and community service in local communities. The foundation seeks to work with their media partners to build a coordinated community-wide growth endeavor.
By NBC 10 News
Published: April 11, 2011
Updated: April 11, 2011 – 7:12 PM
Editor’s Note: The United Way of Rhode Island and NBC 10 have awarded the Jefferson Awards for Public Service to three Southern New Englanders whose volunteer work goes largely unnoticed by the general public. We profile the two of the three winners for 2011.
“Nicholas Lowinger of Cranston, Rhode Island, started a nonprofit company called Gotta Have Sole Foundation, Inc. that is providing new shoes to children living in shelters.
After successfully completing a community project for his Bar Mitzvah, he wanted to continue to help people in need.
As a result, in February 2010, he created Gotta Have Sole Foundation, Inc.
He now regularly reaches out to local shelters to assess the needs of the people they serve, and then makes arrangements to provide new footwear to the children at the shelters.
Nicholas often makes the deliveries himself.
To date, he has arranged for the donation of more than 450 pairs of brand-new shoes to local children, and in the process, he has inspired children and adults alike to help others in need.”