Recognizing "Youth Empowered to Serve"
Celebrating Young Leaders. Inspiring Stronger Communities.
Every day, young people are making a difference.
They're leading with integrity, serving others, overcoming adversity, encouraging their peers, and quietly making their schools and communities better places.
The YES! (Youth Empowered to Serve) Awards were created by The EMpact One Foundation to recognize and celebrate these outstanding young people.
We believe acts of kindness, perseverance, leadership, and service deserve to be recognized—not just championships, grades, or accolades.
If you know a young person who is making a positive impact, we invite you to nominate them today.
Our Mission
The YES! Awards exist to recognize and celebrate youth who demonstrate:
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Leadership
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Character and Integrity
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Service to Others
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Perseverance and Resilience
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Personal Growth
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Positive Community Impact
Through quarterly recognition and annual scholarships, the program highlights the incredible difference young people are making every day while inspiring others to do the same.
Who Can Be Nominated?
Nominees must:
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Be 18 years of age or younger
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Be enrolled in school, participating in a recognized youth activity, or actively engaged in their community
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Demonstrate outstanding character, leadership, perseverance, service, or positive impact
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Be nominated by a parent, educator, coach, employer, mentor, faith leader, or community member
What Makes a YES! Award Recipient?
We're looking for young people who lead by example.
Maybe they...
✔ Encourage others when no one is watching.
✔ Volunteer in their community.
✔ Show remarkable resilience through difficult circumstances.
✔ Demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship.
✔ Inspire classmates and teammates.
✔ Step up to serve others.
✔ Make their school, team, church, or community a better place.
Big moments matter.
But often, it's the small acts of kindness and leadership that change lives.
Those are the stories we want to celebrate.
How the Program Works
Quarterly Recognition
Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly.
Each quarter, up to 2–3 recipients may be selected for recognition.
Recipients receive:
🏆 Framed YES! Award Certificate
🎁 $50 Gift Card
📸 Recognition Photos
📱 Featured Spotlight Across EMpact One Foundation Social Media
📰 Recognition Through Local Media and Community Partners
🌐 Story Featured on the EMpact One Foundation Website
Annual Recognition
All quarterly recipients become members of the annual YES! Awards Class.
At the conclusion of the calendar year:
🎓 Two recipients will each receive a $500 Scholarship in recognition of their outstanding leadership, perseverance, service, and impact.
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