The Thomas Toy Community Center wants to showcase talented teens as well as  teens that are having a social impact on the community.

It will take place at the inaugural Tommy Awards presentation and dinner Nov. 21 at the Calvary Community Church. It will serve to showcase teens and raise funds for the teen center.

 There is a $100 prize and custom TOMMYS trophy that will be presented at the dinner  for the winner in each of the four talent categories.

Organizers are asking community members to nominate teens for the social impact award as well as for teens to enter the four talent categories.

Entry is free. The deadline to do so is Oct. 23.

The TOMMYS social impact award will go to teens  who’ve shown kindness, leadership, activism, service, or creative problem solving.

The talent categories teens can enter in are:

*Visual arts: Painting, drawing, photography, etc.

*Performing arts: Music, dance, acting, etc.

*Literacy arts: Poetry, stories, spoken word, etc.

*Media arts Film, animation, digital creations, etc.

To submit applications visit thomastoycc.org and click on events. Choose the TOMMYS application. Fill out the form and upload a photo or a one to four minute video of your talent.

Team entries such as up to five people in a skit, dance performance, or band are welcome to enter.

Thomas Toy Community Center Executive Director Amber Butler noted the non-profit at Yosemite and Fremont is a drop-in center for teens to study or converse in the cafe, enjoy the “teen cave”, have new doors opened for them through various programs, or to just hang out with their peers in a safe environment.

Donations are crucial to the center’s success

And so is volunteering to share one’s passions.

Those volunteer possibilities go way beyond serving as support staff or mentoring teens in  various life skills and interests.

The center serves 7th through 12th graders.

It is open Monday through Friday during the school year. Hours may vary during school breaks.

If you would like to volunteer, share a skill, take a tour, or partner with the center, contact Butler at (209) 373-6821 or email amber@thomastoycc.org

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com