Do The Right Thing Award Program

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Do The Right Thing Award Program 

The Do The Right Thing Award program has been part of the Rochester Police Department (RPD) since 1995. The goal of Do The Right Thing is to foster positive relationships between local law enforcement and youth in the community. The Do The Right Thing Award program recognizes youth for their bravery, courage and valor, such as volunteering, aiding law enforcement or other first responders, acts of heroism, leadership and positive role model behavior. 

The award distinguishes school-aged children who strive to make good choices, do well in school, give back to their community, or demonstrate a “turn-around” or improvement in their behavior, and to publicly highlight these students and their stories in the news and social media to show that good kids are newsworthy.   

Who is eligible?

Any student enrolled in grades kindergarten-12 in any Monroe County school is eligible for nomination. The good deed the student is nominated for must have occurred in Monroe County within one year of the nomination.

How is a child nominated? 

*Do The Right Thing nominations are accepted throughout the entire year.

click_here_to_nominate

 

What Happens After a Nomination is Submitted?

 Nominations and Award Ceremony

An awards committee comprised of Executive Board Members, representatives of program sponsors, and other volunteers reviews submitted nominations and collectively selects students to receive either the Do The Right Thing Award or a letter of recognition. 

Students selected as award winners are celebrated at a ceremony at the City Public Safety Building, 185 Exchange Boulevard. Ceremonies take place during the school year, with approximately 10 students recognized at each ceremony. Award winners are eligible to receive several prizes, which are generously donated by Do The Right Thing Program sponsors. Nominated students not selected to receive the Do The Right Thing Award will be mailed a letter of recognition. Note: Students selected as winners must attend an awards ceremony to be officially regarded as a Do The Right Thing Award winner (unless the ceremony is held virtually).   

All ceremonies for the 2023-2024 school year will be held at 10:30 AM on the following dates: Awards table

  • November 16, 2023  
  • February 29, 2024  
  • May 2, 2024    

Ceremonies are typically held in the atrium at the City Public Safety Building, and everyone is welcome to attend these ceremonies to support those recognized. However, if restrictions are in place for mass gatherings (such as during COVID), the ceremony may be held virtually with only a limited amount of staff in attendance. If this is the case, while our winners and their families will not be able to attend in person, everyone is welcome to watch the ceremony as it takes place, or anytime afterwards, by watching the ceremony via Facebook Live on our Facebook page.  

College or Trade School Scholarship

Each year, any Do The Right Thing Award winner that is currently a high school senior may apply for a one-time scholarship to be applied towards the payment of their college or trade school tuition or expenses. Scholarship applications will be sent to students in the spring of their high school senior year. All winners must ensure a current address is on file with the Do The Right Thing office in order to receive an application.

Click here to see a list of past scholarship winners.              

 

Do The Right Thing Award Winners

 Click here to view Do The Right Thing Award Recipients.Jeffery sitting w certificate

Do The Right Thing Scholarship Recipients

Click here to view Do The Right Thing Scholarship Recipients.

 

 

Executive Board Members and Program Sponsors

The Rochester Police Department’s Do The Right Thing Awards Program is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors, operating under the auspices of the Rochester Police Department. Sponsorship and donations help make the program possible, and children benefit from the generosity of our sponsors. We always welcome new sponsors and businesses willing to provide gifts and services to Do The Right Thing Award Program winners. Financial contributions are also greatly appreciated and help the program tremendously.

We are looking for more people to volunteer and serve on our Executive Board. New members are needed who are creative and have ideas, time and energy to help the program grow and recognize more students for 'Doing The Right Thing'. 

 Click Here for Do The Right Thing Award Program Board Members and Program Sponsors.

 Click Here for Do The Right Thing Award Program By-laws.

 

Contact us for more information: 

  •  Email:  DoTheRightThing@cityofrochester.gov
  •  Phone:    (585) 428-7863
  • Address:  City of Rochester Public Safety Building
                       185 Exchange Boulevard
                       Rochester, N.Y. 14614

          FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

    

How Can You Help?

Nominate a student

  • Nominating a student is quick and easy.
  • Anyone over 18 years-of-age can submit a nomination (this includes family, friends, neighbors, school staff, coaches, first responders, etc.).
  •  Submit a nomination electronically.   


Follow and share our social media @ Do The Right Thing of Rochester on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter


Make a tax deductible contribution   

  • Do The Right Thing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.
  • Checks can be made out to Do The Right Thing of Rochester and sent to 185 Exchange Boulevard, Rochester NY 14614.
  • We have Venmo! To find us, search for DoTheRightThing.  You will see the name Laurie Kingsley-Henry above @DoTheRightThingofRochester and the Do The Right Thing Logo in a circle next to the name. 
  •  United Way donors, please consider directing your annual gift to Do The Right Thing of Rochester (Donor Code ID # 3383).  

 

Become a Board of Director or Sponsor   

  


Do The Right Thing Newsletter  

Click here to view Do The Right Thing Award Program Newsletters. 

Do The Right Thing Annual Reports

Click here to view Do The Right Thing Award Program Annual Reports.


Celebrating 25+ Years of Do The Right Thing in Rochester!  

We are so excited to continue celebrating the Do The Right Thing Awards Program in Rochester! We have recognized a lot of remarkable young community members since the program began in 1995, and have made a lot of wonderful memories for so many people during this time. To recognize this accomplishment, we have assembled a book to capture many of the memories from throughout the years. 

So many ceremonies and events were held for more than a quarter century — from award ceremonies to scholarship presentations, contests, and special events that have included outings to museums, amusements parks, sporting events, and camps. There were also safety fairs, parades and parties where we’ve bowled together, celebrated holidays and many other fun occasions. This book is a compilation of many of these memories, and includes events through program year 2021-2022.  

 
Contact our office if you would be interested in purchasing a bound-copy of the book: