NEW YORK, May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Russell Simmons, music
industry pioneer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, will receive a 2008
Hollister Award on September 18, 2008 from the Temple of Understanding
(ToU) in honor of his work to bridge the divide between people of different
religions and cultures.
Majora Carter, the second awardee, will be honored for her work to
bring social and environmental justice to poor and disenfranchised
communities around the world. She is a leading urban revitalization
strategist, the founder of Sustainable South Bronx, and a 2005 MacArthur
"Genius" Fellow.
Bhai Mohinder Singh, the third awardee, is the leader of the largest
Sikh community in the United Kingdom. He will be honored for his work as an
intra- and inter-faith educator and for his dedication to advancing
interfaith issues at the United Nations.
The three awardees will join a distinguished list of past recipients,
which includes: His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Dr.
Wangari Maathai, Peter Max, Daniel Pearl, Fr. Thomas Keating, Queen Noor of
Jordan, Maestro Ravi Shankar and Dr. Thomas Berry.
The United Nations Delegate's Dining Hall is the location for this
year's event. Among the 300+ guests, UN dignitaries, leaders of national
and international organizations, past awardees, corporate leaders,
religious dignitaries, and music industry leaders are expected to attend.
The Hollister Award is presented to religious figures who bring
interfaith values into the place of worship; and secular figures who
promote greater understanding of spiritual values in areas such as the
arts, education, media, government, science, law and ecology.
The Temple of Understanding is a leader in educating youth and adults
cross culturally and inter-religiously in order to alleviate fear and
hatred between different ethnic and religious groups. Founded in 1960 by
Juliet Hollister, with the support of Eleanor Roosevelt and leaders from
religion and politics, ToU is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and NGO in
Consultative Status with the United Nations.
The Executive Director of ToU is Alison Van Dyk. His Holiness the XIVth
Dalai Lama is one of the Honorary Chairpersons. The co-Chairpersons are
Sherry B. Bronfman, Marshia Glazebrook, and Laxmi Shah.
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