Reporting by Leah
Close to 700 leaders of religious, business and public life joined Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Founder and President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, to bestow the organization’s annual awards at the Appeal of Conscience Foundation 45th Anniversary Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on September 21, 2010. A VIP reception began at 6:00pm and black-tie dinner followed at 7:00pm.The invocation was delivered by Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, Vice President of the ACF, and the benediction was offered by Archbishop Barsamian, Primate, The Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and a Vice-President of the ACF.
Bernard Arnault, founder, Chairman, and CEO of LVMH presented the Appeal of Conscience Award to John Elkann, Chairman, Fiat Group, and Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder, the Blackstone Group. John Elkann received the Appeal of Conscience Award for his contribution to international and intercultural cooperation and humanitarian endeavors. Stephen A. Schwarzman received the Appeal of Conscience Award for his contribution to education, the arts and international cooperation.
India’s Ambassador to the United States Meera Shankar accepted the World Statesman Award on behalf of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Prime Minister Singh wasintroduced to this international gathering by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, when the Prime Minister gave his address via a video message. Paul A. Volcker, the Chairman of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board introduced Ambassador Shankar, who accepted the award on behalf of Prime Minister Singh.
Dinner Chairmen for this year’s dinnerwere Bernard Arnault, Chairman, and CEO, LVMH Mot Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and Muhtar Kent,Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive OfficerThe Coca-Cola Company. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick,Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, and His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Vice Presidents of the Appeal of Foundation offered the invocation and benediction.
Rabbi Schneier introduced Israeli President Shimon Peres who spoke at the dinner.Former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and Chairman of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker addressed this international gathering as well.
This dinner brought together: H.E. Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, President, Republic of Macedonia, H.E. Ivo Josipovic, President of Crotia, H.E. Pal Schmitt, President of Hungary, Hon. Emil Boc, Prime Minister of Romania, H.E. Joseph Deisss, President of the UN General Assembly 65th Session, and Ambassador Bill Burns, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, andHon. Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York.
Past recipients of the World Statesman Award include Prime Minister Gordon Brown (2009), President Nicolas Sarkozy (2008), Chancellor Angela Merkel (2007) and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2006). Other recipients include former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, Romano Prodi, John Howard, King Juan Carlos I and Mikhail Gorbachev. The ACF has also recognized leading international business leaders including Bill Marriot, Jorma Ollila, Josef Ackermann, Daniel Vasella, Michael Bloomberg, Jeff Immelt and Peter Peterson.
Tickets started at $1,000 and tables started at $10,000.
About the Appeal of Conscience Foundation:
Founded in 1965 by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the ACF has worked on behalf of religious freedom, human rights and tolerance throughout the world. The interfaith coalition of business and religious leaders promotes mutual understanding, peace and interfaith dialogue. The Foundation believes that freedom, democracy and human rights are the fundamental values that give nations of the world their best hope for peace, security and shared prosperity.
For moreinformation about theAppeal of Conscience Foundationpleasevisit their website at www.appealofconscience.org.
