Janis Loo, who is a consummate community giver, was selected to represent the state at the national Jefferson Awards for Public Service in Washington , D.C.

Loo gave away a kidney to the next matching person on the donor list, volunteers at the Hawaiian Humane Society and when her family considers a vacation they make sure they include a stop to help others. She and her family have helped build orphanages and water purification systems.

The Jefferson Awards were founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and former Sen. Robert Taft Jf., and Sam Beard as a way to recognize the unsung heroes of our community for their volunteer work in the community. It is often called the Nobel Prize for peace for community service.

In June, one person from nominees around the country will be selected for the top award.

The other recipients this year were Dr. Ben Galindo, Chaplain Bonnie Holcombe, Colleen Minami and Irene Takeshita. The Jefferson Awards are sponsored by The Honolulu Advertiser and Hawaii News Now.

The 55-year-old Loo was nominated by Julie Ford, who at the time had worked for the National Kidney Foundation. Over the years, Ford and Loo became friends.