Terms & Conditions

The FECK Awards: Celebrating Forgiveness. Empathy. Compassion. Kindness.

Official Terms & Conditions

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

  1. DATES OF CONTEST. This Contest begins at 12:00:01 AM Central time on October 15, 2025, and ends at 11:59:59 PM Central Time on December 1, 2025 (the “Contest Period”). This Contest shall not be published without the written permission of the Sponsor.
  1. SPONSOR. The Sponsor of the Contest is The Ebert Company, Ltd., located at 108 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60654.
  1. PURPOSE OF CONTEST. Chaz Ebert has always believed in the power of values that elevate humanity. That vision comes to life through The FECK Awards—a national celebration honoring individuals and organizations who lead with heart, courage, and FECK. Inspired by her book It’s Time to Give a FECK: Elevating Humanity through Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness, these awards spotlight everyday heroes and bold visionaries who:
  • Build bridges across divides
  • Mend wounds through reconciliation
  • Show compassion in times of need
  • Spark kindness that ripples through communities

Now, we’re inviting YOU to help us find them.

“In a time of deep division, we need reminders of what’s possible. These awards are my love letter to those who show—through action—that humanity still matters, goodness still wins, and when we give a FECK, we can change the world.” — Chaz Ebert

  1. ELIGIBILITY. The FECK Awards Contest (“Contest”) is open only to legal residents of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec).Proof of residency, employment and age may be required to enter the Contest or receive a prize. Entrants must fully comply with the Official Rules and, by entering, represent, warrant, and agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, whose decisions shall be binding and final in all respects relating to the Sweepstakes. 

Nominations are open to individuals and organizations—including nonprofits, businesses, community groups, and cultural institutions—based in the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). From grassroots heroes to cultural changemakers, anyone who embodies one or more of the FECK principles can be nominated.

  1. HOW TO ENTER. To participate, entrants must complete the nomination form available at GiveAFeck.com. Sponsor will honor one individual and one organization in each of the four categories:
  • F – Forgiveness
  • E – Empathy
  • C – Compassion
  • K – Kindness

Entrants will choose the category that best reflects the nominee’s impact. Sponsor may reassign the entry to a different category if another category is a better fit. Multiple nominations for the same individual or organization are permitted during the Contest Period, but the nominations will be consolidated. Entrants may nominate themselves. All nominations must be submitted online; other formats will not be accepted. 

The entry form requires the Nominator’s contact information, the Nominee’s contact information (if not self-nominated), selection of the award category (Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, or Kindness), a brief description (300 words or less) of how the nominee embodies one or more FECK values, and optional supporting materials, such as photos or a video no longer than 2 minutes. Sponsor is the owner of all submissions.

  1. JUDGING AND SELECTION

Semi-finalists will be chosen based on:

  • Alignment with FECK values
  • Authenticity and impact
  • Potential to inspire others

Semi-finalists will be announced in early 2026,. The final selection of the Winners will be at the sole discretion of the Sponsor, whose decision shall be final. Winners will be honored on April 4, 2026 (date subject to change).

Recognition

  • Semi-Finalists: May be featured on GiveAFeck.com, social media, and potentially in press coverage.
  • Winners: Celebrated in in April 2026 and may be showcased in FECK storytelling and promotional materials.
  1. VERIFICATION OF POTENTIAL WINNERS. Potential winner will be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Release of Liability and Publicity Release (where not prohibited by law) (collectively, the “Affidavit”). As part of the verification process, the potential winner may also be required to provide valid proof of identity and residency (such as a current driver’s license or state/providence-issued ID). In the event: (a) potential winner cannot be reached for whatever reason after a reasonable effort has been exerted or the potential winner notification or Affidavit sent by Sponsor is returned as undeliverable; (b) potential winner declines or cannot accept, receive or use the prize for any reason; (c) potential winner is determined by Sponsor, in its sole discretion, to be ineligible to participate in the Contest or receive the prize, (d) potential winner cannot or does not comply with the Official Rules, or (e) potential winner fails to fulfill the Affidavit-related obligations, then the potential winner shall be disqualified from the Contest and an alternate potential winner may be selected, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, from among the other eligible entries received. Sponsor reserves the right to modify the notification and Affidavit procedures in connection with the selection of alternate potential winner, if any.
  1. PRIVACY. Entrants and Nominee’s personal information will be collected, stored, and used only for the purposes of administering the Contest and for marketing purposes directly related to Sponsor. All personal information will be stored in a secure database and used in compliance with privacy and consumer protection laws. By entering the Contest, entrants understand and voluntarily consent to receive promotional and marketing communications from the Sponsor subject to their respective privacy policies. Entrant may opt out of Sponsor’s promotional and marketing communications at info@giveafeck.com. Changing privacy choices and/or choosing not to share all or certain information will not affect the entrant’s odds of winning the grand prize.
  1. CONDITIONS. The Contest is conducted in English. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of these Official Rules and any abbreviated rules or other statements contained in any Contest-related materials, including any entry form, survey, and/or advertising of the Contest; the terms and conditions of these Official Rules shall prevail, govern, and control. By participating in the Contest, entrants and prize winners agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of and determinations by the Sponsor, which are final in all respects and not subject to appeal. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify from the Contest any entrant that Sponsor believes has violated these Official Rules. By participating in the Contest, entrants and prize winners release the Sponsor and its Affiliates from any and all liability, damages or causes of action (however named or described) with respect to or arising out of the Contest. All Contest materials are subject to verification and are void if (a) not obtained in accordance with these Official Rules and through legitimate channels, (b) any part is counterfeited, altered, defective, damaged, illegible, reproduced, tampered with, mutilated or irregular in any way, (c) obtained where prohibited, or (d) they contain printing, typographical, mechanical, or other errors. Entrants assume all risk of loss, damage, destruction, delay, or misdirection of Contest materials submitted by or to Sponsor. In the event any portion of the Contest is compromised by activities beyond the control of the Sponsor which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate the Contest and not award any prize. Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that said entrant is attempting to undermine the operation of the Contest by cheating, deception, or other unfair practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrant, or Sponsor or its Affiliates. If for any reason the Contest is not able to be conducted as planned, including by reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, force majeure, or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor or which corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or conduct of the Contest, then Sponsor reserves the right, exercisable int its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. IF ANY PERSON ATTEMPTS TO DAMAGE OR UNDERMINE THE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. SPONSOR’S FAILURE TO ENFORCE ANY PROVISION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF THESE PROVISIONS.
  1. NO LIABILITY: By participating in the Contest, entrants and prize winners release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any cost, claim, damage, liability or expense sustained, incurred or alleged against any Released Parties arising out of, relating to or resulting from any act or omission by such entrant or prize winner, or their respective successors in interest, related in any way to the Contest, including from receipt, acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize or participation in any promotion related activity or participation in the Contest.

USE OF DATA. Sponsor will be collecting personal data about entrants. By participating in the Contest, entrants and prize winner hereby agree to Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy. 

  1. WINNERS LIST. To obtain the list of winners, send a request via email by May 30, 2026 to info@giveafeck.com.
  1. DISPUTE. This Contest shall be governed by the laws of the state of Illinois. By participating, entrants agree that any disputes, claims, or causes of action arising out of or relating to this Contest will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively in the appropriate state or federal courts located in Chicago, Illinois. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed the entrant. Any claims, judgments, or awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with participation in the Contest, and in no event shall attorneys’ fees be recoverable. Entrants further waive the right to claim any damages other than actual out-of-pocket expenses, including punitive, consequential, or indirect damages.
  1. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY. The Released Parties are not responsible for: (a) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; (b) technical failures of any kind, including malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (c) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; or (d) technical or human error in the administration of the Contest or the processing of registrations. If for any reason an entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, entrant’s sole remedy is to be given another entry in the Contest. 
  1. CONSTRUCTION.  The headings of the various paragraphs are for reference purposes only and are not intended to limit, construe, or interpret any paragraph or provision of these Official Rules.  For the purposes of this Agreement: (a) the term “including” is intended to be inclusive and not exclusive and shall be interpreted as if, in each case, it read “including, without limitation,” unless the context of use clearly requires a different interpretation; (b) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any other person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified; as used herein, “controls”, “control” and “controlled” means the possession , direct or indirect, of the legal power to direct the management and/or policies of a person, whether through the ownership of fifty percent (50% ) or more of the voting interests of such person through contract, law or otherwise; (c)“Section” means a numbered portion of these Official Rules; and (d) “Released Parties” means the Sponsor and its Affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents.