Tikkun Olam Award to be presented Jan. 24 a t President’s Dinner

The Tampa Jewish Federation will once again award the Tikkun Olam Award to a long-time Jewish community leader at the Annual President’s Dinner, set for Jan. 24.

The Tikkun Olam Award honors a community member who has shown exemplary leadership that displays a commitment to Jewish life in Tampa. The criteria for selection include length of service, areas of impact, and commitment to tzedakah. The award nominee is selected by a committee of agency, synagogue, and Federation representatives and is determined by secret ballot.

The identity of the award recipient remains secret until the night of the event.

In 2009, Jeff Wuliger received the award, marking the fourth year it has been given. Previous award recipients are George Karpay (2006) Jack Roth (2007), and Maureen and Doug Cohn (2008).

Each award recipient has been presented with a oneof a-kind glass creation made by Duncan McLellan, a Tampa glass artist and long-time supporter of the Jewish community. McLellan seeks to capture the spirit of the award in his art. McLellan will once again provide his artistic contribution to the event and the award in 2010.

New York Times columnist and author David Brooks, who is also a commentator on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, will be the guest speaker for the President’s Dinner.

Known as a neoconservative, Brooks will discuss “The Future of the Economy and Political Outlook” at the event at A La Carte Pavilion.

His most recent book , On Paradise Drive: How We Live Now (And Always Have) in the Future Tense, focuses on the materialistic drive of most Americans and the focus on the future.

His first book was a cultural commentary titled Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There. Known as a neoconservative, Brooks writes articles and makes television appearances as a commentator on various trends in pop culture, such as internet dating.

Brooks has been an editorial writer and film reviewer for the Washington Times, a reporter and later op-ed editor for The Wall Street Journal, a senior editor at The Weekly Standard from its inception, a contributing editor at Newsweek and The Atlantic Monthly, and a commentator on NPR.

For questions or more information about the Tikkun Olam Award or the Annual President’s Dinner, contact Emilie Kuperman, at emilie. kuperman@jewishtampa.com or (813) 769-2809.

For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Mark Segel at mark.segel@jewishtampa. com or (813) 769-2805.