• Do Something is now accepting applications for the 2005 BRICK Awards! The application deadline is November 1, 2004. You must be 18 years old or younger on April 14, 2005, to be eligible. To download an application, you must register with us; if you have already registered with us, click here to login and download an application.
• The 2004 BRICK Awards Click here to see photos, bios, and videos on the six 2004 BRICK Award winners, and click here to see photos from the 2004 BRICK Awards Gala. You can also check out 2004 Gala press here.

Where Do Something came from The Do Something BRICK Awards were created in 1996 in order to recognize and financially support outstanding young people, to create a network of young community leaders across the country, and to inspire other young people to become active in their communities. Since that time, Do Something has given over $900,000 in community service grants and scholarships to young social entrepreneurs throughout the nation.

What Do Something are The Do Something BRICK Awards program honors and funds the efforts of dynamic leaders age 18 and under who have devised and implemented innovative solutions to problems in their local communities in the areas of community building, health, and the environment. Each BRICK winner receives an engraved brick, a $5,000 higher education scholarship, a $5,000 grant for continued community work, pro bono services, and other support and recognition. BRICK winners are honored at the annual star-studded BRICK Awards Gala, which CNN has dubbed “the Oscars of youth service awards.” The 2004 Gala was on April 8, 2004, at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. To see a video about the BRICK Awards, click here.

Why Do Something do it Do Something recognizes that young people have always been instrumental in building communities, but that they have rarely been depicted as doing so. Do Something also realizes the power of presenting young leaders in the media as examples of what young people can achieve, especially in a culture that focuses almost exclusively on the problems rather than the strengths of young people. Through extensive media coverage and thorough outreach, the BRICK Awards and BRICK recipients have inspired millions of people across the country to do something. we’re making youth-led community change into something possible, fun, and cool!

Our past winners Please note: past BRICK winners were 30 and under; the award is now geared toward young leaders who are 18 and under. Click here to check out our Featured Past BRICK Award Winner, Amy Lemley. Other past BRICK winners include:

• Rachel Timoner, who received a BRICK Award in 1997 for co-founding the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center, an organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans-gender youth;
• Matthew McDermott, who received a BRICK Award in 1998 for his work as a Policy Specialist for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, which included helping to preserve 1,000 affordable housing units and ensuring the adoption of a policy for a 20% affordable housing set-aside in all city housing expenditures; and
• Rebecca Onie, who received a BRICK Award in 1999 for founding Project Health to increase healthcare accessibility in her community and implementing 15 local initiatives to ensure that every child in her community grows up healthy.

Our honorees Do Something also recognizes the achievements of “grown-ups” who have made significant contributions to community building, health, and the environment. The 2004 BRICK Awards Honorees are hip-hop sensation Ashanti and Do Something Board member Dave Mazza (a champion of the BRICK Awards and a General Partner of Grove Street Advisors). Past honorees include Mary J. Blige, Jewel, Wyclef Jean, and George Stephanopoulos.

If you have any questions about the BRICK Awards, email brick@dosomething.org.

The 2004 BRICK Selection Committee:

• Mo Butler, Newark Now
• Jason Diaz, CabWatch
• Mellody Hobson, Ariel Capital Management
• Christina Latouf, Time Warner
• Nancy Lublin, Do Something
• Mark Levine*, One Economy
• Juan D. Martinez, Esq.
• Tina Moore, Luxotica
• Iris Morales, The Union Square Awards Program
• Elizabeth Rusch, author of Generation Fix
• Danielle Rottenberg*, Creative Clay, Inc.
• Michael Sanchez, Clubmom
• Tom Scott, Plum TV
• Emily Scott, J. Crew
• Darryl Wash, Ascend Ventures
• Robin Wilson, WSG Consulting