Applications sought for $250,000 in disability prize money

NEW YORK (JTA) — Applications are now being accepted for the Ruderman Prize in Disability, which features $50,000 awards for five organizations that actively champion inclusion in their work.

The prize is funded and awarded by the Ruderman Family Foundation. It recognizes organizations that are involved in the Jewish community and take the lead in including those with disabilities.

“This year’s Ruderman Prize in Disability will again celebrate exemplars in inclusion, which by example accelerate innovations for people with disabilities and energize the global Jewish community to work toward those ideals,” said Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation. “We believe this competition will generate new attention to the issue and spur new ambitions, as we work toward our goal of the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the Jewish community, so that these individuals have the same employment, social and religious opportunities as those without disabilities.”

JTA is serving as a media partner for this year’s contest.

More than 150 organizations applied for the prize in its first year, with $200,000 in awards divided among 10 winners.

The prize is for existing initiatives only.

Winners will be selected by the Ruderman Family foundation. The application form for the awards is available on the foundation’s website.