TV special to be aired nationwide

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Aug 3, 2002 by Chris Moon Capital-Journal

V O L U N T E E R

By Chris Moon

The Capital-Journal

The story of Maisie DeVore and her swimming pool in Eskridge will be seen across the country next week in a television special highlighting this year's Jefferson Awards winners.

KSNT-TV Channel 27 will broadcast the 30-minute program at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, said station manager Gary McNair.

"Change the World: The Jefferson Awards" is designed to encourage people to volunteer in their communities, said Margaret Breslin, media relations director for the American Institute for Public Service, which sponsors the awards.

Promotional material about the program has been sent to television stations in 210 viewing areas across the country, although it remains unclear how many will air the special, Breslin said.

Last year, the institute had 50 or 60 media partners promoting the Jefferson Awards, and the special was shown in 130 viewing areas, Breslin said.

This year, the institute has 80 media partners.

The program will feature two-minute segments on each of the five recipients of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award.

This award is considered one of the nation's highest public service awards.

In June, DeVore was selected for the award from among 55 other Jefferson Awards winners from across the country.

DeVore, 83, was recognized for her 30-year quest to build a community swimming pool.

DeVore collected cans and bottles and held bake sales and raffles to raise $100,000 for the pool that eventually was named in her honor.

The two-minute features on the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award winners are more extensive than those on the four winners of other Jefferson Awards.

Other Jefferson Award winners include former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Breslin said.

"There will always be those people in the news making a difference," she said.

"The idea is trying to feature and recognize those making a difference on a daily basis and not getting recognized," she said

Production crews recently visited DeVore at her home in Eskridge and filmed her as she collected cans around the area, Breslin said.

The feature includes an interview conducted with DeVore as she sat on the pickup truck she uses to haul cans.

"I hope that people see that one person makes a difference and you don't need a ton of money to do it," McNair said.

"You're going to see five or six role models that aren't wealthy people, and it's kind of neat that we've got one right here in our coverage area," McNair said.

Chris Moon can be reached at

295-1185 or cmoon@cjonline.com.

Maisie DeVore