2026 Rock Steady Boxing _Scott Newman Impact Award Nomination

2026 Rock Steady Boxing Scott Newman Impact Award Nomination
Thank you for your interest in nominating an individual or organization for the Scott Newman Impact Award.

You can start the application process below by clicking NEXT. You may save your progress as you work through the application by using the SAVE button at the bottom of each section

History

Scott Newman founded Rock Steady Boxing in 2006. After a diagnosis of Parkinson disease at the age of 40, Scott started exercising with a boxer’s training program and noticed significant improvement in his PD symptoms. This discovery led to a group exercise class for his YOPD support group. This class and curriculum served as the basis for what is now Rock Steady Boxing which has trained over 4000 coaches and developed 800+ locations located in every state in the US and 14 countries around the world. It is estimated that 40,000-60,000 people with Parkinson disease participate in Rock Steady classes every week.

In 2024, the Rock Steady Boxing Board of Directors created the Scott Newman Impact Award to recognize individuals or organizations that have had a substantial impact to improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s.

Eligible Entities

Individuals or organizations who have made a substantial impact to improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s. Applications may come as self-nomination or nomination by someone. Posthumus nominations are also eligible.

RSB Affiliates in good standing are eligible for nomination, however, qualifying work for the Newman Impact Award needs to extend beyond executing the Rock Steady curriculum. If you wish to nominate your RSB Coach for their work in leading your Rock Steady Boxing location, you may nominate them for the Kristy Rose Follmar Coach of the Year Award HERE.

Ineligible Entities

No one who is serving as a RSB HQ staff member, RSB HQ BOD member, or other volunteer role at RSB HQ is eligible.

Newman Award Committee

The selction committee is an independent committee of individuals from across the Parkinson's community and completely separate and independent of the governance of Rock Steady Boxing.

For completion of this application you may need the following
- Name, address, phone, email for nominee and nominator
- Supporting materials (Resume/CV, websites, media material, letters of support, other materials to support nomination)
Recognition

All finalists and the honoree will be recognized for their work on the Rock Steady Boxing website. If applicable, links to their work will be included. Honoree will also be recognized at the Rock Steady Boxing annual Coaches’ Conference. In addition, when possible, recognition will be provided in the recipient's local area.

Application timeline
- Applications open Dec 1
- Applications submissions close Feb 1
- Committee reviews Feb 2-March 1
- Committee interviews finalists (as needed) March 2-March 15
- All nominees and Honoree is notified by April 1
- Public notification on April 11
Application process

Nominations, either self-nomination or the nomination of others, will be completed through this online application.

Within the application, there is the opportunity to attach up to 4 supporting documents. These could include a Resume/CV, media or scientific publications, or letters of support from the community.
FAQs
- Are posthumous nominations allowed? Yes, an individual can be nominated posthumously. The nominator will need to identify a key contact for the nominee.
- Are individuals under that age of 18 allowed? Yes, the nominator will need to get permission from guardian and include their info as primary contact.
- Are international submissions allowed? Yes
- Are their size restrictions on organizational nominations? No, the relative size of impact will be evaluated relative to resources
The individual or organization being nominated must agree to the nomination prior to the application submission. As part of the application process, the nominator will need to attest that the nominee is aware and agrees to the nomination.

If nominating an organization, the nominator must identify an individual within the organization who will serve as the key point of contact regarding the nomination.

To ensure an inclusive and accessible application process, we offer the option of submitting your nomination via video application. Please contact Ryan Cotton at rcotton@rocksteadyboxing.org to discuss this accommodation.

Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern time on Feb 1. For any questions regarding this process, please contact Ryan Cotton at rcotton@rocksteadyboxing.org.

Application
- Name*
  
  First NameLast Name
- Phone Number*
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
- Email*
  example@example.com
- Relationship to Nominee (Reply SELF if self-nominating)*
- Nominee Name
  
  First NameLast Name
- If the nominee is a minor (under the age of 18), please identify a parent or guardian as a principal contact person
  
  First NameLast Name
- Phone Number
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
- Email
  example@example.com
- Address
  
  Street Address
  
  Street Address Line 2
  
  CityState / Province
  
  Postal / Zip Code
- Website (if available)
- Social Media (if available)
- Title, descriptor in relation to their work in the PD community (Founder of XYZ, CEO of XYZ, Volunteer of XYZ, Researcher at XYZ)
- Name of the organization
- Name of principal contact/representative
  
  First NameLast Name
- Role/Title of principal contact/representative at the organization
- Phone Number
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
- Email
  example@example.com
- Address
  
  Street Address
  
  Street Address Line 2
  
  CityState / Province
  
  Postal / Zip Code
- Mission
- Website (if available)
- Social Media (if available)
- Function/Role of the organization in the PD community
- The intent of the Scott Newman Impact Award is to recognize an individual or organization that has made a substantial impact to improve the lives of people in the Parkinson's community. Describe the nominee's work that has made a meaningful impact in the Parkinson's community. Include the history, current, and future impact of the nominee's work. This section is for the "Story and Description" of the impact made for the Parkinson's community.*
- Over the duration of their work, what are the demonstrated impacts resulting from the work in the Parkinson's community? What were the measurable results (Dollars raised, people served, duration/longevity of their program, policy changes, etc.) This section is for the "Measurement" of the nominee's impact.*
- YesNo
- If YES, will this work continue after the individual or organization is no longer involved?
- If NO, how is the positive impact of the nominee being sustained in their community?
- Is the nominee engaged in other activities, initiatives, or collaboration within the Parkinson's community? Please list those.*
- Additional information
- Resume/CV, Articles- limit of 5 pages, Letters of support- limit to 1 page per letter, Supporting media links, For organizations: annual report, etc.
  
  Cancelof
- Should be Empty:

2026 Rock Steady Boxing Scott Newman Impact Award Nomination

Application