$36,000 award for Jewish teen leaders

Know a socially-minded teen with a passion for repairing the world? The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards is seeking nominations of Jewish teens with exceptional community service/social change projects that embody the value of tikkun olam, repairing the world. Nominations for the awards present an opportunity for educators, civic leaders and teen mentors to acknowledge Jewish teens whose thoughtful approach to making a difference is creating meaningful change, whether locally, nationally or globally. The Helen Diller Family Foundation will recognize up to 15 recipients for its 2015 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards with $36,000 each.
Community members can nominate young leaders now through Dec. 14 using a simple online form on DillerTeenAwards.org. All Jewish teen volunteers who are 13 to 19 years old at the time of nomination are eligible. Since 2007, this annual program of the Helen Diller Family Foundation has recognized 55 Jewish teens with nearly $2 million to further their volunteer projects and education. For questions, contact di**************@sf***.org or (415) 512-6432.
About the awards
Bay Area philanthropist Helen Diller created the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards in 2007 as a way to recognize the next generation of socially committed leaders whose dedication to volunteerism exemplifies the spirit of tikkun olam.
A special documentary-style video at dillerteenawards.org brings to life the accomplishments, creativity and passion of the 2014 recipients, who hail from California, New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Maryland, Massachusetts, Georgia and Illinois. The video aims to inspire people to reflect on the humanitarian efforts of young leaders in their own communities.
Past recipients of the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards have made their mark through projects that champion a wide range of causes including: building soccer fields and water wells to bring people together in war-torn regions of the world, donating textbooks and school supplies to financially strapped schools in California and around the globe, collecting and distributing shoes to homeless children so they can participate in life outside their shelters, raising awareness and changing attitudes about bullying and autism through peer-to-peer programs, creating a vital community garden with myriad benefits for the community, to name just a few. Awardees have also been recognized by some of the world’s foremost institutions and leaders, including the United Nations Foundation, the White House and former president Bill Clinton.
The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and their network of 153 Jewish Federations across North America continues to partner with the Helen Diller Family Foundation to inspire and encourage Jewish teen volunteer service nationwide.
“The Foundation believes in the importance of shining a spotlight on exemplary Jewish teens to build future generations of strong Jewish leaders,” said Helen Diller, President of the sponsoring foundation. “It is our hope that the Awards will not only validate the social efforts of a generation of Jewish teens but empower them to continue on their philanthropic journeys to repair the world.”
• Teens may be nominated by any community member who knows the value of their project—except a family member—or may self-nominate.
• Each candidate must be a U.S. resident aged 13-19 years old at the time of nomination, and must self-identify as Jewish.
• Community service projects may benefit the general or Jewish community, with impact locally, nationally, or world-wide.
• Teens’ work must be as volunteers—without compensation for their services.