The Brick Awards, known as the Oscars of youth service awards, were created in 1996 by Do Something to inspire young people to participate in community programs. Applicants under 25 who have done something positive for the community can apply. Finalists are chosen from approximately 1,000 applicants and winners receive grants and scholarships. The public can vote for their favorite finalist to receive the Golden BRICK Award. Past winners include young people who have set up mobile clinics, created free lending audiobook libraries, and helped soldiers stationed in Iraq keep in touch with their families.
The Brick Awards have been called the Oscars of youth service awards. Created in 1996, they have only recently gained popular appeal. In fact, 2007 marks the first year the Brick Awards will be broadcast on the CW Television Network.
The Brick Awards were created by Do Something, a virtual non-profit company that focuses on inspiring young people to participate in community programs, fundraisers and volunteer programs.
The only two requirements to apply for the Brick Awards are to be under 25 and have done something positive for the community. Young people can postulate themselves or get someone else to postulate. Of the approximately 1,000 applicants in 2006, 24 finalists are chosen. Through 2006, finalists were selected by a committee of successful CEOs and community leaders; the selection is now managed by the Brick Academy, which includes all previous Brick winners.
The Brick Awards are divided into four categories: Global Impact, Community Building, Education and Environment and Health. The finalists go through an extensive series of interviews and presentations, after which the judges meet to deliberate and choose 12 winners, three in each category. Winners over the age of 18 receive $10,000 US Dollars (USD) and winning minors receive a $5,000 USD grant and a $5,000 USD scholarship.
The public can also get involved in the Brick Awards. Once winners have been selected for each category, their profiles are posted online at Brickawards.com. Anyone can then log in and vote for their favorite. The person with the most votes in each category receives the Golden BRICK Award, an additional $15,000 USD to help with their cause.
Past winners include a 22-year-old who set up a mobile clinic to provide cancer screenings; a 22-year-old boy who created a free lending audiobook library for the visually impaired; and a 14-year-old who buys prepaid phone cards to help soldiers stationed in Iraq keep in touch with their families. Most of the young people involved in the Brick Awards have suffered from the same thing they work for now, which makes the awards all the more meaningful.
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