The volunteer causes that people become involved in often reflect the ills of society at the time.

That's the case with the eight winners of the 2007 Jefferson Awards of Public Service, who have put in hundreds of hours helping war veterans, the homeless and uninsured, the hungry, the abused and the underprivileged.

An orthopedic doctor begins helping uninsured patients after he sees so many coming into Mercy Hospital with long-neglected medical needs. A court playroom volunteer, touched by a child exhausted after a sleepless night walking with her mother in search of police protection, champions a project that raises awareness of domestic abuse issues. A man from humble beginnings spends a lifetime working for social causes and equality for all.

The Jefferson Awards, which were started nationally in 1972 by the American Institute for Public Service, honors individuals who have demonstrated Herculean efforts to help others in the community. Locally, a board of community members -- many longtime volunteers themselves -- had the daunting task of singling out these winners from 50 deserving Community Champions who had been nominated by the public and private sectors.

The program is sponsored locally by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments.

The Jefferson Award winners will be honored in late February at ceremony, where each will receive a medallion and $1,000 from a sponsoring agency for the nonprofit organization of his or her choice.

Each year, a local winner is tapped to represent the Pittsburgh region at the national Jefferson Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. That's what happened to 2006 winners Dominick Jones-Moriarty and Warren Butler, both in their early 20s, who volunteered at the Christian-based Allegheny Youth Development on the North Side helping at-risk teenage boys. Although they weren't selected at the June gala as winners of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Awards for Greatest Public Service Benefiting Local Communities, the event was an experience the young men won't soon forget.

Here are brief descriptions of the 2007 Jefferson Award winners and what they have done for the community. Profiles of these winners will begin running tomorrow in the PG Magazine section.

Sidney Singer

• Sidney Singer, 83, of Monroeville, is a tenacious soul who has turned million-dollar ideas into reality. For 30 years, he's been volunteering more than 40 hours a week to help the less fortunate. His persistent drive led to the opening of Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard, a $2.5 million transitional housing facility in Larimer for veterans who are homeless or have other needs.

His profile will appear tomorrow.

William J. Green & Associates is donating $1,000 to Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard.

Megan
Neuf

Erin
Drischler

Jackie
Betz

• People often express surprise over a startling statistic, but that's as far as it goes. Not for Erin Drischler, 17, Megan Neuf, 17, and Jackie Betz, 18, three Shaler Area High School students. When they learned the high rate of rapes and sexual assaults against female students, they put their concern into action by forming M-Powerment, a project that brings awareness about the potential risks to other young women.

Their profiles will appear on Friday.

FISA Foundation is donating $1,000 to M-Powerment of Shaler Area High School

Dr. Edward Kelly

• For years, Dr. Edward Kelly, 66, a retired orthopedic surgeon at Mercy Hospital, scoured street corners, underpasses and riverbanks to bring medical care to the homeless. He's recently focused his attention on getting the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Clinic, Downtown, up and running to provide medical and dental care to the uninsured. The Upper St. Clair resident serves as the clinic's volunteer medical director and hopes to expand its services in 2008 to provide more comprehensive care.

His profile will appear on Saturday.

Macy's Foundation is donating $1,000 to Catholic Charities Free Health Care Clinic.

Robert Pitts

• Robert Pitts, 81, of Schenley Heights, has spent a lifetime working as a leader in the struggle for social justice. Considered a "true champion" for the African-American community in the Pittsburgh region as an NAACP officer and advocate in other causes, the former Wilkinsburg mayor even gave back to society when violence took his son's life in 1996. He donated his son's organs to transplant patients and encouraged other black citizens to do the same.

His profile will appear on Jan. 7.

Dewey & Kaye is donating $1,000 on his behalf to Hosanna House.

Twyla Sable

• From the moment her mother embraced the needs of a stranger coming to her home looking for food, Twyla Sable, 65, of Squirrel Hill, has spent her life trying to help others. She's been a tireless advocate for women, children and families, and through the National Council of Jewish Women, has chaired the Silent Witness Initiative. This program promotes domestic violence awareness through the display of silhouettes that represent abuse victims.

Her profile will appear on Jan. 8.

WOMEN of Southwestern Pa. will donate $1,000 to the National Council of Jewish Women.

Timothy Brown

• Timothy Brown, 38, of Moon, has a marketing degree and could be out in the work force making big bucks. Instead, he spends most of his time preparing and delivering meals, unloading food trucks or handing out items at the food pantry to the underprivileged -- all as a volunteer for the East End Cooperative Ministry in East Liberty.

His profile will appear on Jan. 9.

The PNC Foundation will donate $1,000 to the East End Cooperative Ministry.