15 Youth Leaders from Across the U.S. Receive National Award and $36,000 Each for Giving Voice to World's Most Underserved Populations

San Francisco, CA, June 27, 2018 --(PR.com)-- The Helen Diller Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, today announced the recipients of its annual Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards. Now in its 12th year, the national Awards recognize young changemakers who are committed to undertaking the most urgent and pressing challenges faced by communities around the globe.

This year’s Awards recipients are the creators of non-profit organizations, widely adopted school curriculums, student-led volunteer programs, and more that address issues from school bullying, sexual harassment and sexism, to health disparities, homelessness, and discrimination. Each awardee will receive $36,000 in support of their philanthropic vision. Full descriptions of all 15 Award recipients and their initiatives can be found at: www.dillerteenawards.org.

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 Diller Teen Awards recognize Jewish teens demonstrating and exemplifying the spirit of tikkun olam, a central Jewish value meaning “repair the world.” Since 2007, the program has awarded more than $4 million to 114 teens in recognition of their vision, innovation, and demonstration of leadership.

“This past year has clearly demonstrated the power of youth and their ability to engage in helping repair our world,” said Jackie Safier, President of the Helen Diller Family Foundation. “The 2018 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award recipients are confronting some of the most complex and divisive issues of our time with a passion, determination, and courageousness that we can all admire and hope to emulate. These teens continue to remind us that individuals of any age can be leaders and advocates who seek to positively impact the world in a significant way.”

Fostering a collaborative community among recipients and bolstering national recognition of these forward thinking teens is a primary goal of the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards. Past recipients continue to inspire their peers to follow in their tikkun olam footsteps and create meaningful relationships with new awardees through networking and mentorship. Many past recipients have also been recognized by some of the most prestigious institutions and leaders, including the United Nations Foundation, the Jefferson Awards, the Prudential Spirit Of Community Awards, The White House, and former President Barack Obama.

The 2018 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards recipients were selected by committees comprised of community leaders and educators located in cities around the country. Candidates completed detailed applications describing their projects, goals, impact, inspirations and challenges, fundraising tactics, and major accomplishments. Eligible applicants were United States residents, between 13 and 19 years of age at the time of the application deadline, who self-identify as Jewish. A celebratory awards ceremony honoring the teens will be held in San Francisco on Monday, August 20, 2018.

Learn more about the 15 recipients of the 2018 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards at: www.dillerteenawards.org.

The 2018 recipients encourage anyone interested in nominating a teen to begin the nomination process, also at: www.dillerteenawards.org.