Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards
Scholarship Sponsored by Helen Diller Family Foundation
Program Overview
The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards are administered by the Helen Diller Family Foundation to recognize outstanding Jewish teens who lead volunteer-driven initiatives that repair the world. The program highlights measurable impact, leadership, and commitment to community service. The Foundation’s work is informed by Jewish values and a long-standing emphasis on philanthropy and civic responsibility.
Description: The awards honor youth ages 15–19 who are serving in leadership roles on initiatives that demonstrate meaningful social change. Recipients are expected to lead projects that reflect the Foundation’s commitment to tikkun olam—repairing the world—while operating from the United States.
- Administered by the Helen Diller Family Foundation
- Recognizes measurable impact and leadership in social initiatives
- Focused on volunteer-led projects rooted in Jewish values
Values and Positioning
The Foundation grounds its grantmaking in Jewish values and seeks to foster respect, inclusion, and cross-cultural understanding. It explicitly welcomes diversity within the Jewish community and rejects all forms of hatred and bigotry. The Foundation also affirms its support for the State of Israel and emphasizes the pursuit of peace and security while opposing efforts to delegitimize Israel.
Principles: The Foundation promotes respect for all humanity, embraces racial, ethnic, and religious diversity, and condemns racism, misogyny, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, antisemitism, and other forms of harassment.
- Commitment to respect, inclusion, and cross-cultural understanding
- Welcomes diversity within the Jewish community
- Explicit stance against hatred and discrimination
- Affirms support for Israel and seeks peaceful coexistence
Eligibility
Applicants must meet specific age, identity, residency, and leadership requirements to be considered for the awards. Eligible candidates are volunteers who lead initiatives with demonstrable impact and who perform their work without compensation. Projects led by applicants may have international reach, but leadership and coordination must be conducted from within the United States.
Eligibility:
- 15–19 years old by the application deadline
- Identify as Jewish
- Resident of the United States (continental U.S., Alaska, or Hawaii)
- Project leadership must be conducted from the U.S.; projects may have global reach
- Currently serving in a leadership role on an initiative with measurable impact embodying tikkun olam
- Volunteering without any compensation
- Age and Jewish identity are required
- U.S. residency and U.S.-based leadership are mandatory
- Leadership must be volunteer-based and demonstrably impactful