Ernie Els (PGA), Vince Carter (NBA), Barry Zito (MLB), Tamika Catchings (WNBA) and More Will Compete For Prestigious Award

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ronnie Lott, NFL Hall of Famer and founder of All Stars Helping Kids, is pleased to announce, for the second year in a row, a landmark partnership with  the Jefferson Awards for Public Service to recognize top athletes who have uplifted their community.  Past recipients of Jefferson Awards for Public Service include, Oprah Winfrey, Colin  Powell, Lance Armstrong and Bill and Melinda Gates.

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Over the last few  months, teams and leagues from across the sports world have nominated thirty-six (36) professional athletes who have an outstanding track record of community outreach as well as those that are just getting started, but possess a remarkable passion for service. This year fans have the opportunity to vote 2 ways - by texting their athlete's Jefferson Awards number to 99158 or online by visiting www.allstarshelpingkids.org/teammates/index.html.  Voting ends December 31st. The new pool of nominees includes NBA star Paul Pierce, the San Francisco 49ers' Brian Westbrook, the New York Yankees' CC Sabathia, US Soccer great Brandi Chastain, Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz, and  Super Bowl champion Drew Brees, amongst others. The full list of nominees appears below.  

"One thing these nominees have in common is a passion for looking beyond their sport.  They're stretching themselves - driven to succeed in their community as well as in competition," Lott said. "I encourage people to read about these men and women and follow their examples."

Jefferson Award for Outstanding Service by an Athlete

NOMINEES  

(To vote for a nominee, text code to the right to 99158. Standard text messaging rates apply.)

From this group, five (5) finalists will be chosen in each of two (2) categories: Outstanding Athlete in Service and Outstanding Athlete as a Newcomer in Service. One athlete in each category will be awarded a national Jefferson Award for Public Service.

In January, after public voting has closed, ten (10) finalists will be named to the "Dream Team for Public Service" and for the next three (3) months, fans will have the opportunity to donate to each athlete's preferred charitable organization through a "text‐to‐donate" campaign provided by MobileStorm, Inc. Each finalist will be honored at the All Stars Helping Kids' Sports, Business & Philanthropy Luncheon in March and each will receive a check for the sum of their fans' donations via text message. In the summer of 2011, two (2) winners will receive the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service at the Jefferson Awards National Ceremony in Washington, D.C. One recipient will be named Outstanding Athlete in Service, while the second will take home the award for Outstanding Athlete as a Newcomer in Service.

About All Stars Helping Kids

Since 1989, All Stars Helping Kids has been a galvanizing force and vehicle for individuals and corporate partners to invest in the future of children in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.  All Stars Helping Kids' mission is to promote a safe, healthy, rigorous learning environment for disadvantaged children in low‐income communities.  

About the Jefferson Awards for Public Service

The Jefferson Awards for Public Service is a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public service in America. The Jefferson Awards were established in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard to establish a Nobel Prize for public service. Today, their primary purpose is to serve as a "Call to Action for Volunteers" in local communities.  

SOURCE All Stars Helping Kids

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