Cheryl Blackman is known around Rehoboth Beach for her patriotic, Fourth of July costume, so it was fitting she would go to the nation's capital as a nominee for one of the nation’s highest community service awards.

Blackman was in Washington, D.C. for the national Jefferson Awards, as a candidate for the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting the Local Community. Nominated for the Jefferson Award by her nephew, Chris Cordrey and recognized by WBOC-TV for her work raising money for KINfolk, a charitable organization for kids in need, Blackman also helps raise money for the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company.

Although she has raised more than $7,700 for KINfolk this year, fundraising did not stop at the Jefferson Awards ceremony.

"I sold a lot of raffle tickets. I got all the big shots," she said, referring to the Jefferson Awards gala.

She not only sold raffle tickets; she also secured the donation of laptop computers, which KINfolk uses to work with children with serious medical challenges.

Her fundraising in Rehoboth is so well known, she even makes a small cameo appearance in a new children’s pop-up book called, “A Day In Rehoboth Beach.”

While she did not win the award, Blackman said she was not disappointed and was glad to have the experience.

“There were a lot of people but it was so much fun,” she said. “It was really exciting."

Blackman's mother, Shirley Bennett said, "It's quite an honor. She's certainly in good company."