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.
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: 
- 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click Here for Do The Right Thing Awards Program Frequently Asked Questions.
Contact us for more information:
Email: DoTheRightThing@cityofrochester.gov
Phone : (585) 428-7863
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Do The Right Thing Award Winners
Click here to view Do The Right Thing Award Recipients.
Do The Right Thing Scholarship Recipients
Click here to view Do The Right Thing Scholarship Recipients.
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.
United Way Contributions
Please consider our program if you are making a contribution to the United Way. The Do The Right Thing Award Program is an eligible donor designation through the United Way Campaign. If you are making a donation through the campaign, and would like a donation to be made to our program, indicate on the contribution form that you would like your donation to go to Do The Right Thing of Rochester, ID# 3383. Thank you for your support!
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: