The Philadelphia Citizen seeks 2026 honorees by Dec. 31

The Philadelphia Citizen has opened the nomination window for its 2026 Citizen of the Year Awards.

Submissions are due by December 31. The organization is accepting entries across six specific categories. These include Block Captain, Young Leader, Lewis Katz Corporate Citizen of the Year, Disruptor, and the Edward G. Rendell Lifetime Achievement Award. The top prize, The Philadelphia Citizen of the Year, recognizes a general civic humanitarian. Nominators may submit as many candidates as they wish across any number of categories before the deadline.

The Young Leader category targets residents age 25 or younger. The Block Captain award seeks individuals whose work improves neighborhood safety and cleanliness. The Disruptor category honors those offering innovative solutions to civic problems. The Lewis Katz award focuses on business leaders demonstrating social responsibility. The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes long-term commitment to the city.

Last year’s ceremony featured a diverse group of recipients. Mural Arts Philadelphia CEO Jane Golden received a lifetime achievement award. She encouraged the audience to keep improving the city together. Youth Leader Yuvaraj R. Gambhir and his family raised more than $3 million for Duchenne muscular dystrophy research. Doctors Carl June and Jeff Marrazzo were recognized for gene therapy treatments that helped save leukemia and lymphoma patients. Dr. Paul Offit received the top honor for his public health leadership.

The publication cites previous winners to illustrate the scope of the awards. Dr. David Fajgenbaum was honored for founding Every Cure, a nonprofit that repurposes more than 3,000 approved drugs. Robert Saleem Holbrook, executive director of Penn’s Abolitionist Law Center, was recognized for his work on solitary confinement. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was acknowledged for his efforts supporting local children.

CEO Larry Platt describes the event as the ESPYs of civic engagement. The organization seeks candidates who have made a tangible difference in Philadelphia. It asks readers to identify young people, block captains, business leaders, and other citizens who fit the specific criteria for the six available awards.