(JTA) — The Helen Diller Family Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2014 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards, which recognize Jewish teens for their leadership and innovative social action projects.
As many as 10 teens — up to five from California and from other communities across the country — each will receive $36,000 for the award. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 5.
Since 2007, some 40 Jewish teens across the country have been awarded nearly $1.5 million to support and further their volunteer service projects and education.
Last year’s recipients came from California, Iowa, New York, Rhode Island, Missouri and Massachusetts.
“Today’s teens are tomorrow’s leaders,” said Helen Diller, president of the foundation. “It is our hope that this award will recognize some outstanding young people who are already helping to repair the world. By celebrating Jewish teens committed to social action in innovative ways, we hope to inspire many more young people to follow their example.”
Past recipients of the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards have created projects supporting an array of causes, including providing clean drinking water to Third World nations; teen-based websites that provide tools and resources for youth to pursue their own community service projects; and educational nonprofits that help those living with autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
