Do you know of someone who is courageous, fearless, and advocates for social change? If you do they might be the perfect candidate to nominate for the Freedom from Fear Award. Geri Mannion and Taryn Higashi are founders of the awards and are also co-recipients of the Council on Foundations 2009 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking.

The name Freedom From Fear Award was inspired by Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous “four freedoms” speech, where he focused on the four fundamental freedoms that all people worldwide have the right to.

• Freedom of speech and expression;
• Freedom of religion;
• Freedom from want; and
• Freedom from fear.

Mannion and Higashi were recognized by the Council on Foundations for their leadership of the Four Freedoms Fund, a national funding collaborative that has invested more than $35 million since 2003 in more than 85 grantees working in 33 states to protect immigrants against abuses, promote humane immigration policies, engage newcomers in civic life and build bridges between receiving communities and new residents.

Both have decided to donate the $10,000 cash prize accompanying the Scrivner Award to establish the Freedom From Fear Award. Since the award was first launched 40 other individuals and foundations have partnered in to help commence the award. Click here to see the list of donors.

For guidelines and to nominate someone click here

Good luck!