Today Raymond Ruddy, President of the Gerard Health Foundation announced the 2010 winners of the Life Prizes.
For those of you that don’t know, Life Prizes program is an awards program that honors those who have “succeeded in awakening the conscience of America to uphold and preserve the sanctity of human life through their leadership and advances in public advocacy, scientific research, outreach and public disclosure activities, legal action, and other noteworthy achievements.” Winners will be awarded $600,000 in prize money, which will be divided amongst them.
In a statement, Ruddy said “We are pleased to present the second Life Prizes to such deserving recipients,” stated . “These six winners are doing some of the pro-life movement’s most important work, and it is right to celebrate their sacrifice and dedication. Each of them is an example to follow and we look forward to their future accomplishments in the cause of life.”
Congratulations to these incredible pro-life heros!
Jeanne Head – A force to be reckoned with at the United Nations, Jeanne Head left her career as an obstetrics nurse to fight for the protection of the most vulnerable members of the human family on the international stage. As UN Representative for National Right to Life Educational Trust and a Representative of the International Right to Life Federation, she debates the most politically powerful – from the Oval Office to members of the UN Security Council.
Douglas Johnson – The indispensible man behind all of the greatest pro-life victories in Congress since Roe v. Wade is National Right to Life Committee Legislative Director Doug Johnson. His keen strategy and consummate research have served the pro-life movement from behind the scenes for three decades.
Kristan Hawkins – Young people today are overwhelmingly pro-life, and Students for Life of America and its Executive Director Kristan Hawkins have taken a leading role in engaging young people across the country in pro-life efforts through innovative use of the internet and increasing Students for Life chapters by the hundreds.
Reverend Alveda King – It is altogether fitting that the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. would become one of the most important leaders in the greatest civil rights battle of our day. As founder of King for America, Dr. Alveda King has been the public face of the pro-life movement in the African American community, speaking and advocating for years against abortion and especially the targeting of African Americans.
Marie Smith – There is a global pro-abortion agenda and Marie Smith has made it her mission to identify, unite, and strategize with pro-life groups, lawmakers, and religious leaders to advance respect for life in law and policy. Ms. Smith is the Director of the Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues, a non-partisan global outreach of Gospel of Life Ministries.
Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network In 2005, the world watched as a young woman with disabilities was deprived of food and water by order of a judge. Her family has vowed to fight for the right to life of disabled and vulnerable men and women everywhere, and their Foundation has provided assistance to more than 1,000 families through a national network of resources, support, and medical facilities for the medically-dependent, persons with disabilities, and those incapacitated in life-threatening situations.
Congratulations again to all of these pro-life heros!
The awards will be presented at a ceremony held in Washington, DC on Saturday, January 22, 2011. To learn more about Life Prizes, go to www.LifePrizes.org.
