Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Nomination Form

The Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award was launched by the American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) in 2015 to honor its founder, Samuel Halperin, and his deep commitment to young people impacted by systemic inequities. This award highlights the importance of ongoing policy support for opportunity youth individuals aged 16-24 who are neither in school nor participating in the labor market, and recognizes the need to mentor, guide, and nurture our youth to commit to a life of public service. When Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) acquired AYPF, we reaffirmed our commitment to continuing this award, recognizing young people who exemplify resilience, dedication, and demonstrate a calling to public service.

Award Criteria: The recipient must be a youth or young adult (aged 16-24) who has faced systemic barriers and has transformed those challenges into a commitment to and involvement in public service. Nominations should prioritize individuals from diverse backgrounds, aligning with CDF’s core values of community, equity, and inclusion as reflected in our mission, vision, and strategy. The awardee will receive a $1,000 award and be recognized at Children’s Defense Fund’s National Celebration of Joy on the evening of November 5, 2025.

Nominee Information

Name(Required)

Age (must be between 16-24)(Required)

Preferred Pronouns(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Address(Required)

Untitled

Untitled(Required)

Affiliation/Organization (if applicable)

Brief Bio (250 words max)(Required)

Upload a written statement (500 words max) OR a 3-minute video detailing the nominee’s journey, public service work, and future aspirations.

Max. file size: 100 MB.

Upload supporting materials

Max. file size: 100 MB.

Select an option below:(Required)

I am nominating someone else

I am nominating myself

Nominator Information

Provide at least two letters of recommendation from a mentor, employer, or community leader

Nominator Information

Name(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Relationship to Nominee(Required)

Upload Letter of Recommendation 1(Required)

Max. file size: 100 MB.

Upload Letter of Recommendation 2(Required)

Max. file size: 100 MB.

Nomination Materials

Please submit the following:

A written statement (500 words max) OR a 3-minute video detailing the nominee’s journey, public service work, and future aspirations.
Two letters of recommendation (only required for self-nominations).
Optional: Supporting materials such as project summaries, press mentions, or other documentation of impact.

Consent & Privacy Statement:

Children’s Defense Fund strives to honor the stories and images of those who have given us permission to share. By submitting this nomination, you acknowledge that, if selected, the nominee may be featured in CDF materials, events, and communications. CDF respects privacy and will not share personal information without explicit consent. If the nominee is under 18, parental or guardian consent will be required for any public acknowledgment or media feature.

Submission Instructions:

Deadline: October 3rd

Submit materials to: lreliford@childrensdefense.org

For questions, contact: Lauren Reliford, MSW at lreliford@childrensdefense.org or 202.662.3624