A DeKalb resident was chosen by the United States Jaycees as one of their Ten Outstanding Young Americans for 1988.

Gerald Kilian, 35, was nominated after being selected for a similiar award on the state level in 1987. Kilian moved to the DeKalb area from Lincoln, Ill., last March

Kilian, manager of K-Mart, 2700 DeKalb Ave., was recognized primarily for his work with the “K-Mart Children’s Tree,” which he started in 1985.

The Children’s Tree is a project designed to help deprived children during the holiday season. Gifts of clothing and toys are purchased by citizens after a name is chosen off the tree. “People can purchase the gifts anywhere they like. This is not for business, this is for the kids,” Kilian said.

To keep the anonymity of the children and their families, tags are placed on the tree with the child’s first name and number. Gifts are distributed to the recipients by this method.

The program has helped over one million children since 1985 and Kilian hopes the program will help that many in 1988, he said. “I know it is hard to imagine that over a million children are that deprived, but they are. I know. I have worked with them for the past three years,” he said.

The program has grown from being used by the store he managed in Lincoln, Ill., to being used as a national project by the K-Mart corporation. In 1987, the program became international when a store in Hong Kong began using the idea.

Each year, the U.S. Jaycees send out more than 30,000 blank nomination forms to various organizations and individuals who request them.

Basic criteria for the reward are demonstrations of financial success, economic innovation and improving the community in general, U.S. Jaycees member Russ Higgins said.

Judges who selected the Jaycees’ top ten young Americans were chosen from around the country and include CBS news anchorman Bill Moyer, Birmingham Alabama’s Mayor Richard Arrington and Pittsburgh Steeler standout Rocky Blier. The judging panel selects 20 finalists who are sent to another panel for final selection.

Kilian was flown to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the award ceremony on Jan. 16. At the ceremony, he said he spoke about the history of the Children’s Tree program.

The show will be aired Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. on the Arts and Entertainment network and local channel 21.