Gabe's Red Balloon Foundation

Gun Awareness By Education

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Application – The Gabriel Nikov Memorial Award 2021

How To Apply

To be eligible for the Gabriel Nikov Memorial Award, candidates must:
  • be between 17 and 21 years old;
  • live in the Greater Toronto Area
  • write an essay (handwritten or typed) of no more than 500 words describing (all four parts):
    1. the life challenges you have experienced and overcome;
    2. how you overcame them;
    3. why/how you have become a positive influence and leader in your community/neighbourhood;
    4. what positive community or leadership activities you now participate in that demonstrate your achievement in overcoming your previous challenges.
Instructions for the Application Form

Option 1: Fill out the form below and submit.

Option 2: Download and print the application form, then follow these steps:

  • complete and attach the application form to the front of the essay
  • ask one of the following people who knows you well to sign and date the application form:
    teacher, guidance counsellor, principal, youth worker, coach, youth or community group leader, employer, faith leader (i.e. priest, imam, minister, pastor, etc.)
  • contact information for the reference person must be provided together with your signature allowing the Award selection panel to contact your reference
  • email your application form and your essay NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021
  • as much as possible, be available to receive the Award at the Red Balloon Foundation annual memorial event for Gabriel Nikov in Toronto.

Selection of Recipient

The Award winner will be chosen from among the applications received by a panel led by Kelly Whetter, mother of Gabriel Nikov and founder of the Red Balloon Foundation, co-founder of Communities for Zero Violence, and four other Foundation board members in July. The winner will be informed by phone or email by the end of August. Spelling and grammar will not be a factor in the selection; your achievement in overcoming your life challenges to be a positive influence and/or leader in your community is what counts!

Related pages:

About Gabe and the Award
Frequently asked questions

2021 Application Form

  • YYYY slash MM slash DD
  • Where you can be reached
  • College, Trade School, or University, etc. you will be or are attending
  • Where you currently live (incl. Apt number etc.)
  • Write an essay in response to the following question:
    "How were you able to overcome major life challenges and turn towards a more positive path?"
    -- the life challenges you have experienced and overcome;
    -- how you overcame them;
    -- why/how you have become a positive influence and leader in your community/neighbourhood;
    -- what positive community or leadership activities you now participate in that demonstrate your achievement in overcoming your previous challenges
  • Use this field to upload any scans you may have. You may upload Letters of Recommendation at a later date, but you must do so by May 31. If you do, you do not have to re-enter information you have previously submitted. Only fill in required fields, or fields you want to update.
    Drop files here or
    Max. file size: 64 MB.
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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    Dear friend,

    Gabe's Red Balloon Foundation was established to help mitigate the growing trend of gun violence in Toronto. We help young people in dire circumstances find alternatives to a life of poverty and violence. We are an independent charity supported by people like you. If you chip in the equivalent of a cup of coffee once a month, you will be helping us make this city safer and more liveable.

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