AJWS Announces Finalists for Philanthropy Design Competition

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Apr 23, 2012, 12:16 ET

Nine Artists Reimagine Tzedakah Box for 21st Century

NEW YORK, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Jewish World Service (AJWS), an international development and human rights organization, has announced the nine finalists for its design competition focused on philanthropy and social change. Where Do You Give? challenged artists to create a 21st century icon inspired by the values and imagery of the traditional Jewish tzedakah, or charity, box.

"These nine artists blew my mind and the tops off of the pushke boxes I grew up with," said AJWS president Ruth Messinger. "These designs beg all of us to think about the enormous impact our charitable dollars have on communities in need all over the world. And, more importantly, they offer thrilling new ideas about making giving a part of our everyday lives— whether it's at the grocery store, in the kitchen, on our phones or in public spaces."

In March, AJWS invited the general public to vote on 70 Where Do You Give? submissions. The organization collected over 8,500 votes online and announced the three "People's Choice" winners on its website earlier this month.

Following the public voting process, a panel of judges from the arts, design and Jewish communities met to select the six remaining finalists.

Each of the nine finalists will receive a $250 prize and will be featured in a national mobile tour hosted in galleries, synagogues and various communal spaces. The three grand prize winners, to be announced on May 15, will receive $2,500 and a trip to visit AJWS's grassroots partners in the Americas, Africa or Asia.

The finalists:

"Charity Cube." Tyson Brady, industrial design student at University of Washington, Issaquah, WA. (People's Choice)
"Tzedakah Bag." Rachel Kanter, artist, Montclair, NJ.
"Vending Box." Doug Burnett, art director, Chicago, IL.
"Pixels 4 Poverty." Frederico Zannier, graduate student at NYU Tisch ITP, Brooklyn, NY.
"Hand + Heart." Kristen Baumlier-Faber, associate professor and artist at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH. (People's Choice)
"Discover Needs." Michael Cohn Moreau, software engineer, Nashville, TN.
"From Home to Home." Julie Wohl, Jewish educator and artist, Duncansville, PA. (People's Choice)
"Communal Baking." Laura Silver, writer, Brooklyn, NY.
"Change." Lily Feinberg, artist, Washington, D.C.