2005 NBC 5 Jefferson Awards Honor North Texas Volunteers

2005 NBC 5 Jefferson Awards Honor North Texas Volunteers

DALLAS and FORT WORTH, Texas, March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The NBC 5 Jefferson Awards honor five selfless, committed individuals who work to improve North Texas communities through volunteerism. These five individuals are ordinary people who do extraordinary things.

Rosieleeta "Lee" Abram of Venus, the NBC 5 Jefferson Awards grand prize winner, receives an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the national Jefferson Awards ceremony. Ms. Abram is the founding member of the Lakeside Riders Club, a group that promotes academic responsibility and community service among youth. She devotes her time to positive experiences with youngsters to steer them away from gangs, drugs, alcohol, and teenage pregnancy. As the Dallas regional winner, Ms. Abram will compete for the national Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Award.

Dr. Phil Berry of Dallas is an orthopedic surgeon who volunteers for an organization he founded, the TMA "Live & Then Give" organ donor program, that raises funds to help those in need of transplants. Dr. Berry is always finding new ways to raise money for people who are in financial straits due to medical care. He focuses on giving back the gift he received -- a liver transplant.

Lynn M. Albright of Dallas is a PTA member of Alex Sanger Elementary, the school her daughters attend. Ms. Albright is a mentor. She tutors and created a program to reward students for good grades. She has created many programs, such as "Bikes for Kids," which distributes bikes to disadvantaged students.

John Avila of Fort Worth is the President and Chairman of Thos. S. Byrne, Ltd. He devotes much of his time giving back to the community his company serves. He dedicates his efforts to fundraising for charities and has helped triple the funds raised for non-profit organizations such as the American Heart Association's Tarrant County Heart Walk.

Louis Zapata of Fort Worth helped to decrease the occurrences of unwanted developments and gang activities in his community and increased support for key projects organized by citizens, specifically helping in the effort to improve Fort Worth's North Main Street. He is a champion for underserved families and volunteers with organizations such as the Latin Arts Association of Fort Worth and All Saints Catholic Church.

The five honorees will be featured in a special news series on NBC 5 Today @ 10 am April 18 - April 21, and in the half hour special, NBC 5 Jefferson Awards, which is scheduled to air Saturday, April 30, at 1 pm on NBC 5.

"NBC 5 is committed to North Texas and influencing positive changes in our community. We are very proud to recognize these individuals who volunteer their time in an extraordinary way to make a difference in Dallas-Fort Worth," says Tom O'Brien, NBC 5 president and general manager.

The NBC 5 Jefferson Awards program is part of the National Jefferson Awards, a program of the American Institute for Public Service. The goal of the institute is to inspire others to become involved in community and public service.

NBC 5/KXAS-TV is the NBC Owned and Operated media center serving the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

Source: NBC 5

CONTACT: James A. Martinez of NBC 5, +1-817-654-6405

Web site: http://www.nbc5i.com/

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