Behind every young person is a community of caring adults, schools, organizations, and peers who help them feel known, valued, and supported. The Asset Champions Awards honor these everyday champions whose actions strengthen our community and inspire others to make a difference.
NOMINATE AN ASSET CHAMPION TODAY. NOMINATIONS CLOSE OCTOBER 2, 2026.
What is an Asset Champion?
Held annually, YMCA Project Cornerstone’s Asset Champions Awards celebrate and honor the individuals and organizations whose commitment to building positive relationships with youth helps make Silicon Valley a healthy, caring, and supportive place for young people to live and grow.
Asset Champions are individuals or organizations that make extraordinary efforts to build Developmental Assets, create positive connections with youth, and inspire others to do the same. Developmental Assets are the positive experiences, values, behaviors, and relationships that enable youth to thrive. Asset Champions awards will be given in the following categories:
Adult Role Model: Nominee must be over the age of 24
Caring School Climate: A preschool, elementary school, middle school, or high school (one or more awards may be given in this category)
Community Values Youth: Given to an organization
Positive Cultural Identity: Given to an individual, family, or organization
Youth Role Model ("Positive Peer Influence"): Both nominator and nominee must be under the age of 24
How to nominate an Asset Champion
All nominees will be recognized at the Asset Champions Awards event. One nominee from each category will be recognized at the event with a professionally produced video and personalized award. We encourage you to carefully read through the Call for Nominations document as it provides details on the awards, categories and criteria.
1. Review the categories and eligibility details and make sure that both you and your nominee meet the requirements.
2. Complete the online nomination form for the award category in which you wish to nominate an asset champion. Award recipients will be chosen based on the answers to these questions, so please be thorough and provide examples. See below for helpful hints when writing up your nomination.
3. Plan to celebrate your nominee at the awards event on March 19, 2027. Event details to be announced at a later date.
What makes a good nomination?
The committee's decision will be based on the information submitted in the nomination form. Consider the following when writing your nomination:
Provide specific examples of the impact of the nominee's work. How are they building Assets in Youth?
Outline what sets this nominee apart from others doing similar work. What makes their efforts unique?
Consider how this nominee serves as a role model for others.
Provide enough information. Strong nominations usually include 250-500 words for each question.
Photos, videos, websites, links, and other additional documentation will not be reviewed.
Nomination forms / Formularios de Nominación (English y español)
Click a link below to complete an online nomination form for the following Asset Champions categories.
Haz clic en uno de los enlaces a continuación para completar un formulario de nominación en línea para las siguientes categorías de Campeones de Elementos.
Adult Role Model (English) / Premio al Adulto Como Modelo de Conducta (Español)
(Individuals over 24/Individuos mayores de 24 años)
Caring School Climate (English)/ Premio al Plantel Educativo Interesado for los Jóvenes (Español)
(Preschool, Elementary, Middle and High School/Escuela preescolar, primaria, intermedia y secundaria)
Community Values Youth (English) / Premio para la Comunidad que Valora a la Juventud (Español)
(Organization/Organización)
Positive Cultural Identity (English) / Premio a la Identidad Cultural Positiva (Español)
Cultural identity can include ethnicity, faith/religion, disabilities, family status, gender, language, and/or sexual orientation.
(Individual, Family, or Organization/Individuo, familia u organización)
Youth Role Model ("Positive Peer Influence") (English) / Premio al Modelo Juvenil a Seguir ("Compañero como Influencia Positiva") (Español)
(Individual under 24, nominated by a peer under the age of 24/Individuo menor de 24, nominado por un compañero menor de 24 años)
