Jewish Community Heroes Awards Launches to Spotlight Activists Devoted to Service

The Jewish Federations of North America Kick-Off Third Annual Jewish Community Heroes Event to Recognize and Promote Volunteerism

NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) has announced the launch of the Third Annual Jewish Community Hero Awards, aimed at connecting people through social media to recognize the selflessness and courage of those who are helping their communities through volunteer service.

Jewish Community Heroes is the largest social media initiative in the Jewish community, bringing in over 850,000 votes for hundreds of worthy nominees over the past two years. The initiative is part of a broad effort by JFNA to promote public service in communities across the United States and Canada.

This year, voting will take place between Sept. 7 and Nov. 10, and 10 semi-finalists will be announced from each of the categories -- individuals and professionals -- on Nov. 15. A panel of judges, heroes in their own right, will select the Jewish Community Hero of the Year, as well as four finalists, from among the 20 nominees who receive the most online support. The Jewish Federations will recognize the 2011 honorees and unveil the Jewish Community Hero of the Year at a special event in December. The winning hero will receive a grant of $25,000 to support their project, which can range from running charity bake sales or low-income literacy projects to helping neighborhood development programs or mobilizing people around a good cause. Any American or Canadian resident at least 13 years of age is eligible to be nominated through Sept. 27.

During the 2010 campaign, Jewish Community Heroes attracted more than 300,000 online votes for several hundred worthy nominees. Jay Feinberg from Boca Raton, FL, was named last year's Hero for his work to found a Jewish bone marrow registry after being diagnosed with leukemia. Since receiving the grant last year, Jay has already been able to connect five people to bone marrow donors.

To learn more and to nominate and vote for your Jewish Community Hero for 2011, visit the Jewish Community Heroes Website. Click here to watch videos from the 2010 Jewish Community Hero Awards.

The Jewish Federation movement is the largest Jewish philanthropy collective in the world and The Jewish Federations of North America is dedicated to promoting awareness and involvement among the Jewish community in the United States and Canada.

SOURCE Jewish Federations of North America