The Helen Diller Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards.

Now in its tenth year, the prestigious national award recognizes up to 15 Jewish teens annually with $36,000 each for demonstrating exceptional leadership and spearheading dynamic social change.

Up to five teens from California and ten from other communities across the United States will be acknowledged for their philanthropic efforts.

Teachers, Civic Leaders, Rabbis – anyone interested in nominating a teen – or any teen interested in self-nominating, can visit www.dillerteenawards.org to begin the nomination/application process.

The deadline for nominations is Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017.
 
The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards began in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2007 as the vision of Bay Area philanthropist Helen Diller.

The awards recognize Jewish teens demonstrating and exemplifying the spirit of tikkun olam, a central Jewish value meaning “to repair the world.” 

Since its origin in 2007, the program has awarded over $3 million to 84 teens in recognition of their vision, compassion, innovation, and demonstrated ability to lead.
 
“Nominating a teen for the Tikkun Olam Awards is a wonderful opportunity for educators, civic leaders, and teen mentors across the country to recognize young Jewish leaders who are creating meaningful change at home and across the globe,” said Jackie Safier, Helen Diller’s daughter and president of the Helen Diller Family Foundation. “We hope the awards encourage and catalyze a generation of Jewish teens in their ambitious work to repair the world.”

Beyond bolstering national recognition of the teens and their efforts, the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards foster a growing network of award recipient alumni collaborating on leadership, innovation, and volunteer service initiatives across the nation. Members of the alumni network inspire new awardees to follow in their tikkun olam footsteps by mentoring them in their ongoing endeavors.
 
Awardees have been recognized by some of the world’s foremost institutions and leaders, including the United Nations Foundation, the White House, the Clinton Global Initiative, Forbes 30 Under 30, The Jefferson Awards, CNN Heroes, and the Nickelodeon HALO Awards.
 
The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards is one of many projects funded by the Helen Diller Family Foundation. Now in its 16th year of giving, the Helen Diller Family Foundation has granted more than $220 million to charitable projects that support education, the arts, medical research and leadership training for teens.
 
Qualifications for nomination:

· 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 worldwide.

· Teens’ work must be as volunteers – without compensation for their services.

To nominate, complete the simple online form at www.dillerteenawards.org .

For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 415-512-6432.