TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. — The Helen Diller Family Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2014 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards, an awards program that recognizes up to 10 Jewish teens with $36,000 each for exceptional leadership and visionary actions that are helping to repair the world.

Up to five teens from California and five other U.S. communities will be acknowledged for their socially minded volunteer service. Visit http://www.dillerteenawards.org to begin the nomination process. Deadline for nominations is Jan. 5, 2014.

Bay Area philanthropist Helen Diller began a major commitment in 2007 to support California Jewish teens who exemplify the spirit of tikkun olam — a central Jewish precept meaning to repair the world. The program has since expanded nationally, recognizing 40 Jewish teens across the country with nearly $1.5 million dollars to support and further their volunteer service projects and education.

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Past recipients of the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards have created a wide range of projects, including providing clean drinking water in third world countries, teen-based websites that provide tools and resources for youth to pursue their own community service projects, educational nonprofits that help those living with Autism and Alzheimer’s and many more.

The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards have nurtured a growing network of young leaders. Awards alumni have inspired and mobilized a “civic generation” committed to volunteerism. Past recipients have 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.

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“Today’s teens are tomorrow’s leaders. It is our hope that this award will recognize some outstanding young people who are already helping to repair the world,” said Diller. “By celebrating Jewish teens committed to social action in innovative ways, we hope to inspire many more young people to follow their example.”

QUALIFICATIONS

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, locally, nationally or world-wide.

Teens compensated for their services are not eligible.

For more information email dillerteenawards@sfjcf.org or call 415-512-6432.