26 December 2025
At OSCAR Foundation, we often say that football is the tool, but education and empowerment are the goals. While our greatest reward is seeing a child stay in school or a young leader take charge of their community, receiving external recognition is a powerful reminder that we are moving in the right direction.
This past month recognition has been nothing short of extraordinary. We are humbled and thrilled to announce that OSCAR Foundation has received three prestigious awards in the last 30 days.
These awards are special because they don’t just recognize one aspect of our work; they celebrate the full spectrum of our mission, from visionary leadership and grassroots sports excellence to our commitment to girl child education.
Here is a look at our “Hat-trick of Recognition.”
1. Celebrating Visionary Leadership: The Change Maker Award
The first honour belongs to the captain of our ship. Our Founder, Ashok Rathod, was honored with the Change Maker Award at the Democratic Sangha 2025.
Ashok’s journey from a young boy in Ambedkar Nagar wanting to fix his community to leading a movement that has impacted thousands of lives is the heartbeat of OSCAR. This award recognizes not just his leadership, but the philosophy that “ordinary people can drive extraordinary change.” It is a salute to every young leader at OSCAR who looks at a problem in their community and decides to be the solution.
2. Excellence in the Field: Grassroots Sports Initiative of the Year
We have always believed that organized grassroots sports are the bedrock of character building. We were incredibly proud to receive the Jury Special Mention Award for Grassroots Sports Initiative of the Year at the 3rd CII Sports Business Awards 2025.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) represents the gold standard in Indian business and development. To be recognized on this platform validates our “No School, No Football” methodology. It acknowledges that our sports programs are professional, scalable, and impactful. This one is for our coaches on the ground, rain or shine, ensuring every child gets the playtime and mentorship they deserve.
3. Empowering the Future: Social Star Award in Girl Child Education
The third, and perhaps most touching recognition, is the Social Star Award in Girl Child Education from CSRHAT.
At OSCAR, we fight hard against early marriage and school dropouts. We believe that when a girl plays, the world watches, and mindsets change. This award highlights our specific focus on gender equity, ensuring our girls have the same access to education, life skills, and the football pitch as the boys. It is a testament to the bravery of our girl players who break stereotypes every time they tie their laces.
Winning three awards in one month is a milestone, but these trophies do not belong to us alone.
As we head into the new year, these awards serve as motivation to dream bigger, reach further, and keep the ball rolling.