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Guest Post & Q&A brought to you by Colossal
When I received this information from Colossal about the 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year competition, I knew I wanted to share it with families here on Greatful Moments. There are so many children who spend countless hours practicing their sport, learning about teamwork, overcoming challenges, and discovering what they are capable of doing.
The 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year competition gives young athletes ages 7 through 17 an opportunity to share their stories, rally their communities, and compete for an incredible championship experience.
And when I saw what this year’s winner could receive, I knew this was an opportunity many families would want to learn more about.
So today, we’re sharing the information and Q&A provided by Colossal about the 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year.
What Is the 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year?
Colossal has launched the 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year, a national competition celebrating the next generation of athletes while supporting the mission of the Why Not You Foundation. The competition recognizes young athletes who demonstrate dedication, leadership, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
Participants have the opportunity to tell their stories, celebrate their athletic journeys, rally support from their communities, and compete through tournament-style voting rounds.
How Does the Competition Work?
The Youth Athlete of the Year competition follows a tournament-style format based on community support.
Friends, family members, teammates, and fans can cast one free vote every 24 hours to help their favorite athlete advance.
Supporters may also make tax-deductible votes by donation. Those votes by donation go directly to DTCare, which will issue a grant to the Why Not You Foundation when the competition concludes.
There are three basic steps:
1. Apply: Parents or guardians complete a short application for their young athlete and await approval from the competition team.
2. Share: Participants tell their stories, celebrate their athletic journeys, and encourage their communities to get involved.
3. Compete: Once voting opens, participants advance through tournament-style rounds.
What Does the Winner Receive?; This year’s grand prize package has been expanded and includes several once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year will receive:
- The opportunity to be flown to a professional athletic commercial shoot to represent 3BRAND in an advertising campaign appearing on CBS and in Sports Illustrated
- A full red-carpet experience before being honored on stage at the official Family Film & TV Awards airing on CBS
- A one-on-one mentoring session with Russell Wilson, held virtually or in person
- $25,000
That’s quite a prize package for a young athlete!
The opportunity to participate in a professional advertising campaign that will appear on CBS and in Sports Illustrated would certainly be a memorable experience.
Who Are the Ambassadors?
The competition includes an all-star group of ambassadors who will provide inspiration and mentorship through exclusive content focused on performance, confidence, and personal growth.
The ambassadors include:
- Russell Wilson, Super Bowl Champion Quarterback, 10-time Pro Bowler, entrepreneur, philanthropist, sports owner, and co-founder of the Why Not You Foundation
- Shawn Johnson East, Olympic gold medalist, entrepreneur, and advocate for confidence, resilience, and healthy living
- Kevin Love, NBA champion, Olympic gold medalist, and five-time NBA All-Star
- Laila Ali, undefeated boxing champion, wellness advocate, and inspiring voice for strength, determination, and personal growth
- David “Big Papi” Ortiz, MLB legend, World Series champion, and one of baseball’s most celebrated personalities
Supporting the Why Not You Foundation
The beneficiary of this year’s competition is the Why Not You Foundation, founded by Russell Wilson and Ciara in 2014.
The nonprofit works to advance education initiatives, support children’s health programs, and combat poverty by empowering young people with the resources and opportunities they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Russell Wilson said the foundation is committed to helping young people believe in themselves, embrace opportunities, chase greatness, dream big, and approach life with a “Why Not You” mentality.
The Youth Athlete of the Year campaign, he explained, is about more than athletic talent. It also celebrates character, leadership, and the impact young people are making both on and off the field.
What Happened With Last Year’s Competition?
The 2026 competition follows what Colossal describes as a successful 2025 Youth Athlete of the Year competition. According to Colossal, the 2025 competition resulted in more than $21 million in grants to the Why Not You Foundation and V Foundation for Cancer Research through Colossal’s grantmaking partner, DTCare.
This year’s competition continues the effort to bring young athletes, their families, communities, and sports fans together while supporting opportunities for young people.
What Is 3BRAND?
The competition is supported by 3BRAND, the youth apparel company founded by Russell Wilson and Ciara. The company focuses on inspiring young people to chase greatness with a “Why Not You?” mindset. For the 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year winner, that connection could lead to an opportunity to represent 3BRAND in a professional advertising campaign appearing on CBS and in Sports Illustrated.
Shutterfly Is Also Supporting the Competition; The Youth Athlete of the Year competition is sponsored by Shutterfly. For more than 25 years, Shutterfly has helped families turn cherished memories into keepsakes through photo books, holiday cards, wall art, personalized gifts, and more. And if there’s one thing families with young athletes tend to have plenty of, it’s photographs and memories!
Who Can Apply?: Parents and guardians of youth athletes ages 7 through 17 from across the United States and Canada are invited to apply. Quebec is excluded. Throughout the competition, participants will have the opportunity to share their athletic journeys and stories while rallying support from friends, family members, teammates, and fans.
An Important Note for Parents: The Youth Athlete of the Year competition is independently administered by Colossal. It is not intended to serve as a talent evaluation, scouting program, athletic ranking system, or measure of athletic performance.
According to the competition information, CBS, Sports Illustrated, and the competition ambassadors are not involved in administering the competition or selecting winners. Competition outcomes are determined according to the Official Rules. Parents should review the eligibility requirements and Official Rules carefully before entering their child.
Could Your Child Be the 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year?
If you have a young athlete between the ages of 7 and 17, this may be an opportunity your family wants to explore. Every child has a different story. Maybe your child has spent years working toward a goal. Maybe they’ve overcome an obstacle. Maybe they’ve learned how to be a better teammate. Maybe sports gave them confidence or helped them discover something they didn’t know they could do.
Those experiences are part of what makes youth sports so meaningful. mThe Youth Athlete of the Year competition gives young athletes a chance to share those stories, bring their communities together, and compete for a very special championship experience.
And this year’s winner could find themselves participating in a professional advertising campaign, walking a red carpet, meeting with Russell Wilson for a mentoring session, and receiving $25,000. That’s certainly something to dream about!
Learn More and Apply
Parents and guardians interested in the 2026 Youth Athlete of the Year can learn more about the competition, eligibility requirements, application process, voting, and Official Rules here:
Guest Post & Q&A information provided by Colossal.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
