The Charlie Award is a trophy that is given to the COAI Clown Alley which best documents and celebrates International Clown Week (August 1-7). Adopted in 1974, it was offered to the (then) COA Alley that did the best job observing National Clown Week. In 1999, the COAI Board approved through the recommendation of the Clown Week chairman, Bob Gretton, a new award for the individual member. The Individual Award is given to a member of COAI which best documents and celebrates Clown Week on an individual basis.

Under the aegis of the old COA, the award was given nine times, but discontinued in 1983. The competition was renewed in 1994.

The alley award was designed and donated by the Grand and Glorious Mid-Michigan Galaxy of Clowns, Alley #44. Introduced by Lyle Richard and approved by the COA Board, it is a 22-in high, 6-inch wide clown shoe carved of solid walnut by Roger Fosbender. Karen Allred of Utah Clown Alley #26 provided the fitting name, CHARLIE: Clowns Have A Real Love In Everyone. In 2000 the Individual award was designed and donated by the Kapitol Klowns, Alley #6.

The Charlie Award contest is open to all active alleys (contact the Alley Coordinator if you have questions on your alley status) and individual members. The winning alley and individual member receive their respective Charlie Awards for one year awarded at the COAI Spring Convention banquet, and will be given their plaques for permanent possession the following year.

RULES for Competing for the Charlie Award
as an Alley or an Individual

• A competing alley must be in good standing and have 100 percent COAI membership. Individual must also be a member in good standing in COAI.
• Put together a scrapbook. In this book you will have any documentation about your Clown Week activities, news stories, thank you notes, proclamations, and pictures.
• An alley should show members who participated and days during the week showing events as well as types of activities.
• Scrapbook must be submitted to the Clown Week Chair by October 1st. 
   
  Barbara "Nuzzles" Waters-Riddle
  2800 Kiskadee Drive
  Englewood, Florida 34224-4730
   
• Winning Alley and Individual will be announced at the Saturday evening awards ceremony.
• Alley's name will be engraved on the trophy. Individual's name will go on plaque. Trophy and plaque will be returned in time for next year's convention and substitute plaques will be given for permanent possession to alley and individual at spring COAI Convention.