Watch the awards ceremony for the 2024 Silver Medalists on the CBS News Bay Area YouTube channel.
Watch CBS News
Watch the awards ceremony for the 2024 Silver Medalists on the CBS News Bay Area YouTube channel.
Do you know someone in your neighborhood who's making a difference and deserves recognition? Nominate a Bay Area resident for a Jefferson Award.
Now into its second decade, a San Francisco nonprofit has been giving inner city kids free surfing lessons. For many, it's their first time in the ocean.
A woman who experienced bullying as a middle school student has spent the last 22 years giving young people a safe place to belong and grow.
More than three million people in the US live with epilepsy, according to the CDC. One Santa Rosa filmmaker is working to make sure they are seen and heard.
A San Pablo no-kill shelter that's considered a last resort for animals is scrambling to find an affordable new home quickly.
A San Francisco man has helped his nonprofit take fundraising to the next level so that more underserved children can build life skills while playing sports.
Being in the foster care system can be tough for children, and it often doesn't become easier once they age out. But there are people trying to help them succeed.
A Mill Valley man known for his public art projects that bring his neighbors together is being honored for providing gifts to his community.
A first-of-its-kind San Francisco program that trains the next generation of makers is closed temporarily because of a fire, but Its founder is working to safely reopen as soon as possible.
A Pacifica woman is being recognized for leading an annual ocean education program at a coastal school for over 30 years.
A San Francisco native is helping keep alive the city's historic Japantown, one of only three left in the U.S.
A Redwood City man changed his career path - from running Stanford's Digital Language Lab to going to beauty school - so he could serve his community in a way that's more meaningful to him.
A San Francisco-based nonprofit created by this week's Jefferson Award winner helps low income and unsheltered people stay healthy and feel good about themselves.
A trio who's led the way in keeping San Mateo County beaches clean is launching a whale of an idea for Earth Day.
Two Peninsula mothers are encouraging San Mateo County youth to think about how they can care for the environment and express themselves using the video tools they already use.
An Oakland man is bringing families together to break the cycle of violence in a neighborhood known for violent crime.
A San Francisco woman has spent more than a quarter century helping older adults and people with disabilities remain in their homes safely.
CBS News Bay Area on Thursday honored all of our 2023 Jefferson Award winners at our annual medal ceremony.
A Concord woman's nonprofit that brings comfort and support for families with critically-ill children in the hospital has continued to grow since KPIX first spotlighted the Jefferson Award winner in 2005.
His nonprofit launched one of the largest privately-funded programs giving unhoused people a basic income in the Bay Area. Kevin Adler's 2018 Jefferson Award winner's groundbreaking program is making a difference.
Marin County students are learning new details about a little-known period of Black history thanks to a Marin City woman.
Children who have felt isolated are now experiencing a sense of belonging, thanks to a program started by a Marin County woman.
Nearly a year after the mass shooting at two mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay, a woman and her nonprofit have been a pillar of support for the farmworker community.
This week's Jefferson Award winner has been dubbed the "Godfather of Roller Skating" in San Francisco, spending more than four decades promoting the sport.
As we begin our 19th year of sharing stories of our Jefferson Award winners, Sharon Chin gives us an overview of 2023's community heroes who inspired us with their acts of service.
In San Francisco, a husband and wife have volunteered in the fight against food insecurity for more than 36 years.
California food banks used to distribute primarily canned and boxed food, but thanks to an innovative idea from a Bay Area man, they are also able to give away mostly fresh fruits and vegetables.
An Oakley woman has been offering the kind of support and healing that she didn't find readily available when she was diagnosed with cancer.
A pair of volunteers working for a South Bay organization go out of their way to bring warmth and nourishment to the unhoused, not just during the holidays, but all year round.
A Hayward teacher is using the timeless work of Shakespeare to inspire his elementary students to dream big.
An Oakland man is helping close the racial gap in graduation rates, as a study by the Brookings Institution shows 76% of Black boys complete high school nationwide compared to 87% of white boys.
A Vietnam veteran from Santa Rosa has made it his mission to make sure unhoused veterans are not forgotten.
A husband-and-wife team based on the Peninsula are "there with care," bringing compassion and support to families with children battling critical illness.
You hear "film industry" and many people immediately think "Hollywood." But an enterprising pair has been working to put the Bay Area on the map as a hot spot for filmmakers for the last 11 years.
The man known as "Rev. G" just returned from New York City where the Jefferson Awards' parent foundation, Multiplying Good, honored him with the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for extraordinary service to local communities.
A San Francisco artist has led the collaborative community mural movement in the city and Bay Area for nearly half a century.
A San Francisco man who led his family on a service project to collect litter is now cleaning up city streets full time with thousands of volunteers.
A pair of women from the Bay Area are taking their compassion for canines overseas by rescuing dogs from war-torn Ukraine.
A San Francisco man is marking 30 years of celebrating Filipino community arts and culture in the Bay Area
An Alameda County food bank employee created a model for the nation when she began helping people dealing with food insecurity get the nourishment they need.
An Oakland man whose life was changed in high school after being injured in a shooting has paired up with a fellow educator to help East Oakland teens succeed through an innovative school model.
The nonprofit helps single mothers throughout California with necessities for their families.
A Danville man who was a 2016 Jefferson Award winner says his nonprofit has kept 55 million crayons from ending up in landfills.
Nearly one million Americans are living with Parkinson's disease and the Parkinson's Foundation expects that number to grow by 20% in seven years. A North Bay physical therapist is giving patients hope in slowing the progression of the disease.
Shikira Porter and her neighbors sparked a new conversation about safety after joining NextDoor several years ago.
An Oakland native is raising literacy rates in Oakland public schools where standardized tests show only about a third of students are reading at grade level.
This week's Jefferson Award winner is a North Bay college student who has spent more than half her life raising money for pediatric cancer patients.
This week's Jefferson Award winner is a retired San Francisco teacher who has been making a difference among the nearly one in five California public school students who are learning English as a second language.
A San Francisco woman who has spent more than 30 years getting homeless pregnant women and their families on their feet is embarking on a major expansion.
A pair of past Jefferson Awards winners recently partnered to open new doors in filmmaking for San Francisco kids in the Western Addition.
A Marin County woman's horse riding accident decades ago helped spur an idea that began one of the oldest weekly therapeutic horseback riding programs in the Bay Area.
Do you know someone in your neighborhood who's making a difference and deserves recognition? Nominate a Bay Area resident for a Jefferson Award.
We're frequently asked for tips on presenting the best possible nomination. Here is some advice from the selection committee:
- Be detailed - that doesn't mean be too wordy, but don't leave out the basics of what your nominee does, and how he or she does it. Be specific about the individual's contribution. Use examples or anecdotes, as well as numbers. Include how many individuals, families or communities are served by your nominee.
- Keep in mind, the award is geared toward recognizing individuals rather than organizations. Consider nominating the founder or leader of a group rather than an entire contingent.
- Be mindful of the selection committee's guiding principles: impact, inspiration, sustainability, innovation, and need. Ask yourself how your nominee's work relates to these core ideas and detail that in your nomination.
- Feel free to include web links!
Our steering committee selects the winners. (The committee meets approximately every six to eight weeks. Winners will be notified directly over the following weeks. If a nominee is not selected, the nominator will receive a note letting them know.)
Wednesdays on KPIX 5 News at 5 p.m.
Thursdays on KPIX 5 News at Noon
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Almost 80 years after the Port Chicago explosion, there is a push to rectify a terrible wrong and recognize the heroism and courage of Black sailors.
Tech mogul Elon Musk said Tuesday afternoon that he would be moving the headquarters of both his social media company X and SpaceX to Texas in response to a new California law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Police in San Francisco on Tuesday asked for the public's help identifying a man who was recently captured on video blocking a Waymo vehicle before he allegedly assaulted a "cognitively impaired" person, leaving the victim hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
Millbrae citizens, angry over the potential conversion of a hotel into a permanent supportive housing project, are in the middle of a special election that could recall two councilmembers who support it.
San Mateo County Superior Court will reduce several services due to state budget cuts, the court announced Monday.
The Alameda County Coroner identified four of the five victims allegedly killed by an Alameda man on July 10.
Three death row inmates have been resentenced, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced Tuesday afternoon.
A new free ferry service linking Jack London Square in Oakland to a shopping center in nearby Alameda is set to launch on Wednesday, officials said.
A crash involving two big rigs on Interstate Highway 680 in Alamo temporarily closed all northbound lanes Tuesday morning.
Walnut Creek police arrested a man suspected of shooting at someone last week in the downtown area.
Police in San Jose on Tuesday released the grim news that the father of three-year-old Ellie Lorenzo, the young girl who went missing while in his custody last week, was suspected of killing the girl before committing suicide.
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni announced charges Tuesday for the 1991 cold case killings of an elderly woman and her son-in-law in Prunedale.
Two earthquakes were recorded early Tuesday morning near Gilroy, according to the US Geological Survey.
On a warm summer day at an East San Jose housing complex, Ayesha Charagulla is working to bridge the gap between privilege and poverty in Silicon Valley.
Police in Palo Alto are searching for two suspects after an elderly woman reported her necklace was stolen while she was taking a walk over the weekend.
The paid caretaker of an elderly North Bay woman was arrested after raping the woman and assaulting her adult daughter who had arrived home to find the sexual assault in progress, authorities said Tuesday.
A Santa Rosa man was arrested Monday following a series of fires last week that police said were sparked by illegal fireworks.
Authorities in Mendocino County are investigating after a Caltrans electronic highway sign was tampered with so it displayed a virulently racist message to drivers over the weekend.
One of the two Americans convicted in the 2019 stabbing death of an Italian plainclothes police officer has been granted house arrest.
Prosecutors allege that a driver who fatally hit a Vacaville police officer last week intentionally ran him down, and filed murder charges that include killing an officer while he was on duty.
A new artificial turf surface at the Oakland Athletics' temporary home in Sacramento will have a hydration element because of summer heat at the open-air ballpark.
A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers because the two sides haven't made progress on a new deal.
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Fresno State football coach Jeff Tedford says he's stepping down because of health concerns.
The 24th Annual Kahuna Kupuna Benefit Surf Contest recently took place in Pacifica to celebrate the talents of older surfers.
The Alameda County Coroner identified four of the five victims allegedly killed by an Alameda man on July 10.
Three death row inmates have been resentenced, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced Tuesday afternoon.
Police in San Jose on Tuesday released the grim news that the father of three-year-old Ellie Lorenzo, the young girl who went missing while in his custody last week, was suspected of killing the girl before committing suicide.
The paid caretaker of an elderly North Bay woman was arrested after raping the woman and assaulting her adult daughter who had arrived home to find the sexual assault in progress, authorities said Tuesday.
A Santa Rosa man was arrested Monday following a series of fires last week that police said were sparked by illegal fireworks.
Tech mogul Elon Musk said Tuesday afternoon that he would be moving the headquarters of both his social media company X and SpaceX to Texas in response to a new California law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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OpenAI whistleblowers have filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission and asked the agency to investigate whether the company illegally restricted workers from speaking out about the risks of its artificial intelligence technology.
San Francisco, Oakland and Fremont were awarded a combined $32 million from the California Public Utilities Commission last week to expand internet access to underserved communities.
East Palo Alto is looking to join the growing list of Bay Area cities with license-plate-reading cameras installed by law enforcement. The mayor and police chief believe these cameras will also help East Palo Alto improve its reputation.
A UC Davis researcher spoke about what causes heart failure, what fixes it, and how that could be different for men and women.
Nationwide, the CDC says the COVID virus level in wastewater is now "high" for the first time since last winter.
The City of Berkeley failed to complete over two-thirds of mandatory restaurant inspections last year, an auditor's report revealed Wednesday.
State water officials have issued a "danger" advisory at multiple locations in Discovery Bay after finding evidence of harmful algae blooms.
Santa Cruz County public health officials said Monday someone with measles was in Santa Cruz last week.
One California lawmaker called out Musk for his announcement that he will move his companies to Texas, while another lawmaker agreed with the billionaire's concerns.
President Biden is considering proposals to reform the Supreme Court, CBS News has learned.
At its meeting on Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors were considering a new ordinance to ban an industry algorithm that some say is artificially causing apartment rental rates to skyrocket.
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Three death row inmates have been resentenced, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced Tuesday afternoon.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law barring school districts from passing policies requiring schools to notify parents if their child asks to change their gender identification.
San Leandro is hosting its first Pride celebration and organizers spoke to KPIX about the decision to launch the celebration now.
One San Francisco bookstore is fighting book bans by shipping LGBT+ books to directly the Deep South for free.
Public health officials came armed with a serious message for Pride Month: Get vaccinated against mpox.
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"Big Brother" announced Tuesday the 16 new Houseguests who will move into the "Big Brother" house and, for the first time ever, have the power to vote in a 17th houseguest.
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Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oakland Unified School District has seen an alarming spike in the number of unhoused students in the school system who deal with a host of challenges far beyond what most children face.
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Kelsi Thorud reports on San Francisco Skate Week. Website: http://kpix.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpixtv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KPIXtv
Devin Fehely reports on call for the "Port Chicago 50" to be recognized as heroes for protesting dangerous conditions that caused the Port Chicago disaster in 1944.
Jose Martinez reports on the search for the man who attacked a bystander after being told to let a Waymo car pass. Website: http://kpix.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpixtv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KPIXtv
Len Ramirez reports on the responses - both positive and negative - to the first of its kind bill passed by the California State Senate that aims to protect transgender students. (7/16/2024)
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Now into its second decade, a San Francisco nonprofit has been giving inner city kids free surfing lessons. For many, it's their first time in the ocean.
A woman who experienced bullying as a middle school student has spent the last 22 years giving young people a safe place to belong and grow.
More than three million people in the US live with epilepsy, according to the CDC. One Santa Rosa filmmaker is working to make sure they are seen and heard.
A San Pablo no-kill shelter that's considered a last resort for animals is scrambling to find an affordable new home quickly.
A San Francisco man has helped his nonprofit take fundraising to the next level so that more underserved children can build life skills while playing sports.
Samir Hooker had to grow up fast after his stepfather was shot dead 12 years ago. Now he is watching over his mom and sister while attending UC Berkeley.
It's hard enough to graduate from one of the most prestigious schools in the country when you're the first in your family to go to college. Imagine doing that while you're also trying to protect your parents from being deported?
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