In addition to the General Category (28 awards), 10 awards will be given in the 2025 Special Category: LGBTQIA+ Community Award. Awards will be given in the following 2025 Sponsored Categories: A Kinder World for Animals Award (3 projects), the Equity in Law Award (up to 2 projects), the Civil Discourse & Connection Innovation Award (1 project) and the Yuriko Kikuchi Arigato Award (1 project).

Read below for descriptions of the Special and Sponsored Categories.

2025 Special Category

LGBTQIA+ Community Award

10 projects awarded

The LGBTQIA+ Community Award will support ten youth-led projects advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and/or creating affirming spaces where LGBTQIA+ individuals can feel safe, valued, and empowered.

At Riley’s Way, we believe that inclusive communities built on kindness and empathy are not just important – they are necessary. The LGBTQIA+ community faces significant challenges, including a lack of support, understanding, and safe spaces where they can express their identities freely. By choosing this to be our 2025 Special Category, Riley’s Way youth leaders recognize the need to invest in youth-led projects that support LGBTQIA+ communities at a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are under attack.

This category seeks initiatives that foster acceptance, promote access to essential services, and advocate for systemic change to contribute to a future where all LGBTQIA+ individuals can thrive with confidence, pride, and a sense of belonging. Previous Call For Kindness projects focused on this topic include: Rainbow Voices (2024), Campaign 4 Gender Inclusivity (2024), Togetherness + Really Awesome Non-Normative Support (2022).

Our youth leaders choose a different Special Category each year. Previous special categories addressed topics such as Education Equity, Environmental Justice, Food Insecurity, and Mental Health.

2025 Sponsored Categories

Call For Kindness sponsored categories are mission-aligned and represent Riley’s Way values of Kindness, Empathy, Community, and Youth Leadership.

A Kinder World for Animals Award

3 projects awarded

The A Kinder World for Animals Award supports three projects that embody Riley’s Way’s values while addressing (1) the well-being of the animals that share human homes, communities and/or the planet; or (2) the role and importance that animals play in human lives and well-being. Eligible projects may focus on companion animals, domestic farm animals, captive or free-roaming wildlife, and/or support for pet owners in crisis.

This category is sponsored by A Kinder World Foundation.

Civil Discourse & Connection Innovation Award

1 project awarded

The Civil Discourse & Connection Innovation Award will support a project dedicated to fostering constructive dialogue, mutual understanding, and respectful engagement across differing viewpoints and ideologies. This category promotes common civility, which is essential for deep conversations and meaningful connections. The projects may range from nationwide initiatives empowering youth to lead thoughtful discussions on contentious topics to local workshops that teach effective communication and conflict resolution skills within diverse communities. Examples of model projects and organizations include Dialogue Vanderbilt, the Trust Collaboratory, and Repair The World.

Guided by Riley’s Way values of empathy, active listening, and shared understanding, activities promoting civil discourse help build bridges across divides, nurture critical thought, and create spaces where individuals feel heard and respected, regardless of opinion. These projects offer their participants a place to connect, strengthen their empathetic muscles, and grow within conversation. Above all else, these efforts seek to get at a more prominent, yet often overlooked aspect of discourse; our shared humanity.

The Civil Discourse & Connection Innovation Award is in honor of Julian Sandler, the late grandfather of Riley Hannah Sandler. This award is very much in the spirit of Julian’s life and work as a bridge builder and connector. “My dad was a connector who, like Riley, loved to bring people together from different backgrounds,” explained Ian. “He was an amazing human being and taught us to be philanthropic from an early age. Believing in learning from everyone, he was a true friend, always there in times of need.” Julian Sandler was active in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and came to this country to get a Ph.D. in nuclear physics with little in his pocket. He built a remarkable life in the United States during his short 64 years and was a true kind leader.

Equity in Law Award

Up to 2 projects awarded

The Equity in Law Award supports two projects that address either systemic barriers, promote legal education, advocate for marginalized communities, or create resources to ensure that all individuals—regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or background—can navigate and benefit from the law equitably.

This award seeks bold and creative approaches that foster equitable access to justice, amplify youth voices, and build a more inclusive legal profession. Eligible projects may seek to dismantle structural inequities, empower communities through an increased understanding of legal rights, responsibilities, and systems, or foster opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and gender-nonconforming youth, to thrive in legal professions.

This category is sponsored by Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. The firm has been awarded “Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity” by Seramount’s Hall of Fame.

Yuriko Kikuchi Arigato Award

1 project awarded

The Yuriko Kikuchi Arigato Award (“Arigato” means “thank you” in Japanese), supports one project annually in dance and the performing arts in honor of Yuriko, the pioneering dancer, choreographer, and keeper of Martha Graham’s flame. The project must be youth-led and inspired by kindness, drive change in your community, build connections, and be centered around dance or the performing arts.

Born in San Jose, California in 1920, Yuriko lived through a world war, two pandemics, and worked her way up from a seamstress to become one of Martha Graham’s most renowned dancers and choreographers. She remained with the Graham Company for more than 50 years and founded a student company, the Martha Graham Ensemble, in 1983. A trailblazer and multitasker, Yuriko accomplished countless feats, including being honored by the Martha Hill Dance Fund with a Lifetime Achievement Award, choreographing and designing costumes for numerous routines, and both performing in and directing The King and I in London, Japan, and on Broadway in New York City. Yuriko passed away in March of 2022 at the age of 102. This award honors Yuriko Kikuchi’s legacy, love, and passion for dancing. Yuriko was the grandmother of Riley’s Way’s Director of Operations, Laura (Kikuchi) Dunn.