SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – The Jewish Community Foundation held its second annual Peter Chortek Leadership Award Ceremony recently to honor three extraordinary young individuals’ service and leadership contributions to the community. Jenna Arocha, Jonathan Feldman and Sasha Pines were each awarded $3,600 and each received an additional $1,800 in a donor advised fund at the Jewish Community Foundation to promote ongoing philanthropy.
Peter (of blessed memory) and Elaine Chortek created the Award to foster Jewish communal involvement by rewarding Jewish high school students who are practicing the value of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world.
Jenna Arocha, Grade 12, Rancho Bernardo High School: Upon learning about the great human toll on the environment, Jenna Arocha knew that she could make a major difference beyond just recycling at home. She launched the Temple Adat Shalom Recycle Project, a comprehensive program that educates other students, raises money to benefit the synagogue’s school and improves the wider synagogue community. The recycling system inspires other young leaders within the synagogue and encourages students to recycle through classroom competitions
Jonathan Feldman, Grade 10, High Tech High: Jonathan Feldman organized the first 5K race to raise money for Folds of Honor, which provides support to the spouses and children of U.S. soldiers killed or disabled in military service. Jonathan discovered Folds of Honor while preparing for his bar mitzvah and wanted to support their work on a larger scale through this race to make a noticeable and lasting community impact. He plans to hold the race annually to spread awareness about military families’ needs.
Sasha Pines, Grade 11, San Diego Jewish Academy: Sasha Pines created and volunteers at Camp Let Loose, a summer camp aimed at serving children, teens and young adults with special needs that is administered through the Friendship Circle. Because camp was one of her favorite experiences, she wanted to share the opportunity to go to camp with those who otherwise could not. Beyond providing a summer to remember, Sasha engages other teen volunteers to guide the camp and become leaders, too.
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Preceding provided by the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego