Game Changers
B’nai B’rith Alfred Dreyfus Unit and JNF Australia are calling for nominations for the fifth annual Game Changers – Youth & Young Adult Achievement Awards which recognise the efforts of young people helping to make the world a better place.
“This is the platform through which we can recognise and nurture the future leaders of our community to ensure its thriving continuity,” said Etty Ayalon, the driving force from the JNF.
The categories for the national awards are Contribution to the Jewish Community, Contribution to Australian Society, Support for Israel and Leadership. All categories will be awarded in a youth age group (14 to 18) and a young adult age group (18 to 35), with the exception of Leadership awarded only in the young adult demographic.
Plus, for the first time there will be an Educator of the year award recognising educators, teachers, Rabbis and madrichim who go above and beyond their call of duty.
Ernie Friedlander, the B’nai B’rith instigator of the program, is thrilled by the positive results in getting young people recognised for the valuable contributions to society. “It is most refreshing to see decent young people coming forward, giving up their valuable time to do such wonderful deeds.”
He added: “I am particularly keen to get young people recognised for their contributions – too often they fall through the cracks, particularly in outlying areas and are not sufficiently acknowledged. I like to suggest that we need to stop, think and consider others!”
Steve Ligoff, 2015 award winner remarked “I view the event as an essential avenue for our youth to advance into the community leadership later in life. By giving our youth recognition and reward for their hard work, it allows them this valuable pathway into the future leadership”
All nominees will receive a certificate of acknowledgement and go into the draw to win a trip to Israel. The winners will be judged by a panel comprising five communal leaders and will be presented with their accolades at a ceremony on Sunday 25 June.
Nominations close 22 May. For nomination forms and further details visit www.jnf.org.au/changemaker
