You have just 9 days to vote for the Brooklyn Do Gooder Awards. 200 “do gooders” have been nominated by people all over Brooklyn and the public voting period is going on now and ends on October 15, 2010.

After the public voting period a group of judges, including novelist Peter Hedges, WNYC’s Laura Walker, Brooklyn Industries’ Lexy Funk, Laurie A. Cumbo of the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, Stephen Hindy of Brooklyn Brewery, Sara Horowitz of Freelancers Insurance among others others, will select five winners from among the 20 finalists.

The criteria: The Brooklyn Do Gooder Awards campaign celebrates the altruism, philanthropy and commitment of five Brooklyn Do Gooders working towards a stronger, better Brooklyn.

“These are individuals who embody the highest value of community service and philanthropy; exceptional individuals who display an outstanding sense of giving back locally–with time, talent and/or charity.”

The winners will be honored at the Foundation’s anniversary celebration on November 3, 2010 at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

So how do you find out who’s been nominated?

Well, it’s a little overwhelming. But your best bet is to go to the Brooklyn Do Gooder Awards website. There you will find pages and pages of small photographs of the nominees. If you put your cursor on a photo you will see the name and category of that person (Arts for All, Caring Neighbors, Education and Youth Achievement, Community Development, & Green Communities). If you want to learn more you can click on the photo.

It’s actually really fun and interesting to learn about the people who have been nominated.

I am also getting emails from the friends of nominated individuals campaigning on behalf of their friends and colleagues.