The Charles Bronfman Prize today announced the nomination period for the 2010 award cycle will commence on November 1, 2009. The Prize celebrates the vision and endeavor of an individual or team, 50 years of age or younger, whose humanitarian work has contributed significantly to the betterment of the world. The goal of The Charles Bronfman Prize is to bring public recognition to young, dynamic individuals from around the world, whose Jewish values infuse their humanitarian accomplishments, and provide inspiration to the next generations.

The nomination period will close on January 15, 2010. The required nomination forms and guidelines to the process are available for download at www.TheCharlesBronfmanPrize.com. An internationally recognized panel of Judges will select the Prize recipient(s) and bestow an award of $100,000 in the fall of 2010.

Five years ago, Ellen Bronfman Hauptman and Andrew Hauptman together with Stephen Bronfman and Claudine Blondin Bronfman presented the first Prize to honor their father. Previous recipients of The Charles Bronfman Prize have included Jay Feinberg, Executive Director of the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation; Dr. Alon Tal, one of Israel's young environmental visionaries; Dr. Amitai Ziv, the Founder and Director of the Israel Center for Medical Simulation; Rachel Andres, Director of Jewish World Watch's Solar Cooker Project and Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, founders of the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP).

"Today we begin the annual international search for the extraordinary, young humanitarians The Charles Bronfman Prize will honor in 2010," said the Prize Founders. "Through the years, we've been privileged to meet remarkable nominees representing a wide range of humanitarian endeavors. The Prize allows us to honor both our father and the young visionaries who values inspire them to seek change and make a positive impact on the world every day."

Over the years, nominators from distinguished international institutions in both public and private sectors have helped identify accomplished nominees whose purpose deserves attention and respect, and serves to inspire others. Judges have considered hundreds of qualified nominations from around the globe -- young women and men whose diverse range of humanitarian efforts include ground-breaking applications of alternative energy, co-existence, conflict resolution, education, environmental initiatives, human rights, medicine and science, and social justice.

"Like Charles Bronfman, we believe wholeheartedly in the power of young people, the paramount importance of education, and our responsibility to create opportunities to enrich the lives of future generations and build a better tomorrow," said Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, founders of the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP). "Receiving the 2009 Charles Bronfman Prize was a tremendous honor and is allowing us to expand KIPP's reach to more children across the United States, as well as internationally. We are laying the groundwork to support a KIPP inspired school in an underserved community in northern Israel, an exciting achievement we never envisioned when we started this program in 1994, and one that may not have been possible without this Prize."

About The Charles Bronfman Prize

The Charles Bronfman Prize is a humanitarian award that celebrates the vision and endeavor of an individual or team, 50 years of age or younger, whose humanitarian work has contributed significantly to the betterment of the world. Its goal is to bring public recognition to young, dynamic individuals whose Jewish values infuse their humanitarian accomplishments, and provide inspiration to the next generations. An internationally recognized panel of Judges selects the Prize recipient(s) and bestows an award of $100,000.

The Charles Bronfman Prize Foundation, a United States 501(c)(3) corporation headquartered in New York, administers the Prize. For more information about Charles Bronfman, The Prize or prior recipients and their accomplishments, please visit
www.TheCharlesBronfmanPrize.com.

Charles Bronfman Prize, The

Charles Bronfman Prize, The

The Charles Bronfman Prize is an humanitarian award created and endowed by his children -- Ellen Bronfman Hauptman and Andrew Hauptman together with Stephen Bronfman and Claudine Blondin Bronfman -- in honor of their father’s 70th birthday. Charles Bronfman has spent a lifetime developing, implementing and supporting initiatives that help to strengthen the unity of the Jewish people; investing in next generations to expand their knowledge and appreciation of their history, heritage and cultural identity; and impacting on the direction of Jewish life and community. The Prize celebrates the vision and talent of an individual or team under 50 years of age, whose humanitarian work has contributed significantly to the betterment of the world. Its goal is to bring public recognition to young, dynamic individuals whose Jewish values infuse their humanitarian accomplishments and provide inspiration to the next generations. An internationally recognized panel of Judges selects the Prize recipient(s) and bestows an award of $100,000.

More from Charles Bronfman Prize, The