NAPERVILLE, IL. — KidsMatter is accepting nominations from Naperville-area nonprofits in preparation for the 2026 Youth Service Award ceremony — an annual event that showcases not only the generous service of local young people, but also KidsMatter’s position as a community connector that forges partnerships to support and celebrate the lives of youth.
The City of Naperville established the Youth Service Award in 1993 to honor Naperville-area students for outstanding community service — and to encourage ALL youths to give back. When KidsMatter was founded in the mid-1990s — gaining 501(c)(3) status 25 years ago, in 2021 — the organization soon became a natural fit to handle administration of this annual celebration of youth. In 2005, KidsMatter joined the City of Naperville in championing the Youth Service Award, and all of the kind, giving and selfless young people it celebrates. Since the award’s founding, recipients have logged more than 50,000 volunteer hours in service to more than 50 local nonprofit organizations — including, in some cases, charities teens have founded themselves.
Supporting the volunteer work of local youth fits in perfectly with KidsMatter’s longstanding practice of building developmental assets, which are attributes proven by the research of the Minnesota-based Search Institute to positively affect youth development. Volunteerism helps students make constructive use of their time and form a positive identity, while also building connections with caring adults in the community and growing a strong support network.
Celebrating students through the Youth Service Award has long been an enjoyable occurrence for many community leaders with connections to both KidsMatter and the City of Naperville, including former City Council members Kenn Miller and Paul Hinterlong. Both fondly recall attending the annual ceremonies during their years on the council and both say the evening has become a showcase of the youth empowerment strategies and successes that make up KidsMatter’s very mission.
“That was always a fun night, giving kids awards for giving back to their community through a couple dozen different nonprofits in town,” Hinterlong said about the annual Youth Service Award ceremony, this year scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 in Council Chambers at the Naperville Municipal Center,
400 S. Eagle St. “It’s important to recognize kids that are doing great things in the community.”
Collaboration among KidsMatter and the City of Naperville extends further than just the Youth Service Award. KidsMatter and the city have worked collaboratively on several causes throughout KidsMatter’s 25 years, including youth drug prevention, career exploration and job readiness, and more recently, suicide prevention and promoting positive mental health.
“Tomorrow’s leaders are today’s volunteers,” Mayor Scott Wehrli said. “Young people in our community already see how serious issues affect their friends, classmates, and city. KidsMatter shows them that they can use their vision and passion at any age to contribute to a collective solution and, in turn, improve Naperville. It’s a privilege for community leaders to participate in programs like the Youth Service Awards, where we can recognize those who go above and beyond through volunteering and say, ‘I see what you’ve done. Thank you.’”
Through his own work as a relationship-builder and connection-maker, Miller said he has advised KidsMatter for many of its 25 years, even helping recommend the two most recent leaders to fill the role of CEO & Executive Director — Nina Menis, since 2021, and her predecessor, Kamala Martinez.
When KidsMatter has needed city approval for an event or requested city funding for a program, people like Miller, Hinterlong and many other supporters among the city’s elected officials and staff members, have been there to explain the process, make introductions and assist. KidsMatter is truly grateful for this support.
As KidsMatter culminates its 25th anniversary celebrations with the EMPOWER Gala on Saturday, Oct. 24 — scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Naperville,
1823 Abriter Court, Naperville — the organization is proud to celebrate all of the partners, sponsors, supporters and donors who have made our work possible. KidsMatter’s work to empower youth to say “No” to destructive choices and “Yes” to their endless possibilities succeeds because it has become the community’s work, conducted in collaboration with organizations and resources including mental health professionals, hospitals, schools, public safety agencies, faith-based communities and local businesses.
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