COLORADO SPRINGS — SOUTHERN COLORADO — KOAA5 wants to celebrate the unsung heroes who selflessly serve those in need. Let us know about amazing people making a difference in our community every day by nominating them for the Jefferson Awards. The prestigious nationwide program recognizes people making extraordinary efforts to make their neighborhoods better through service.
KOAA5 has the honor of presenting this award to people in Southern Colorado and we need your help to discover these gems in our communities.
Our June 2021 Jefferson Awards winner is Larry Stebbins of Colorado Springs. He coined the nickname "The Garden Father," after founding a non-profit called Pikes Peak Urban Gardens in 2008.
Under his expertise, he helped create and build 12 new community gardens in low-income neighborhoods around the Pikes Peak Region.
While working with the organization, he partnered with local non-profits like Habitat for Humanity, Care and Share Food Bank, and Westside Cares, to help build gardens for their clients.
The 72-year-old says age is just a number when it comes to giving back to the community. Since founding the organization, the retiree has taught classes in the community on how to garden with more than 8,000 people attending. He's made an impact and a difference for many people in the community, which is why he is the recipient of the Jefferson Award for the month of June.
For more information about The Garden Father, click here.
ORIGINS OF THE JEFFERSON AWARDS
Started by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1972, The Jefferson Awards have honored the incredible spirit and unique accomplishments of over 63,000 national and local heroes.
Every Jefferson Award honoree, from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Congressman John Lewis, to former Buffalo Bill Fred Jackson has inspired through their selfless public service.
Together, we will bring much-needed attention to those Coloradans who generate the ripples of good in our community.
