We wanted to share good news with friends and members of our Network! Hal Saunders, President and founder of the International Institute for Sustained Dialogue, and Amy Lazarus, SDCN's Executive Director, both received honors this week. Read below to learn more about these awards.
 

Hal Saunders received the American Academy for Diplomacy's Anneberg Award. The American Academy of Diplomacy and William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, hosted its twenty-first annual awards luncheon on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the U.S. Department of State, where Hal gave the keynote address. Hal received this year’s Anneberg Award for Excellence in Diplomacy, awarded to an individual who has made exemplary contributions to the field of American diplomacy. Past recipients of the award include Secretary of State Colin Powell and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Learn more about Hal’s award here.

Amy Lazarus received the USA Network's "Characters Unite" Award, which recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made significant efforts to fight prejudice and discrimination, while increasing tolerance, respect, and acceptance. Each of the eight recipients, who were selected from hundreds of nominations, will receive a $5,000 grant and will be featured on Public Service Announcements on air and on line. See USA’s press release here and read more about Amy's award here and here. SDCN will receive the award from USA and Comcast on December 17 at a lunch event in Washington DC. If you are interested in attending the ceremony, please RSVP online by December 14.

These awards provide an opportunity to highlight the great work in communities and on campuses, and remind us that there is a lot to be thankful for during this holiday season. We're excited that both of these leaders have been recognized for the impact they have made over the years, and we look forward to continued growth in the years ahead. Congratulations to Amy and Hal!