Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy is an American award by the United States Department of State which recognizes individuals, foundations, associations, and corporations that actively contribute to advancing America's ideals around the globe through public diplomacy. The award is named in honor of Benjamin Franklin because, as the nation's first envoy, he was "known for his creative ways of using culture, business and science to attract the attention of foreign audiences".[1]
The establishment of the award was announced by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in January 2007, as the most prestigious honor that the Department of State can bestow on U.S. citizens and non-governmental organizations, giving special emphasis to activities that:
- provide hope and opportunities in the core areas of education, culture, and information
- empower, educate, and inspire key audiences such as women, students, and educators
- engage under-served communities and grassroots organizations.[2]
The awards are presented in four categories:
- Individuals
- Corporations
- Academic institutions (schools, universities, etc.)
- Not-for-profit organizations (non-governmental organizations, foundations, associations, etc.)
Benjamin Franklin Award for Outstanding Diplomatic Service
editPrior to the establishment of The Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy in 2007,[2] The Benjamin Franklin Award for Outstanding Diplomatic Service was established in 1992,[3] with recipients as follows.
| Year | Date | Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | November 16, 1992 | President George H. W. Bush |
| 1994 | April 25, 1994 | The Honorable Michael J. Mansfield |
| 2003 | April 29, 2003 | The Honorable George S. McGovern |
| 2003 | April 29, 2003 | The Honorable Robert D. Stuart, Jr. |
| 2008 | May 6, 2008 | The Honorable James A. Baker, III |
| 2013 | May 6, 2013 | The Honorable William J. Vanden Heuvel |
| 2013 | May 6, 2013 | The Honorable Keith L. Brown |
| 2013 | May 6, 2013 | The Honorable Bruce S. Gelb |
| 2013 | May 6, 2013 | The Honorable Henry L. Kimelman |
| 2013 | May 6, 2013 | The Honorable Ogden Reid |
2016
- Individual Category Winner: Eric Treene, Ehsan Zaffar, Catherine Newcombe – for their work on advancing religious freedom issues under United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18.
- 2008
- Non-Profit Category Award Winner: Search for Common Ground
- Academic Category Award Winner: University of Southern California
- Corporate Category Award Winner: Johnson & Johnson
- Individual Category Award Winner: Dave Brubeck
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Glenn Kessler (10 January 2007). "U.S. Overseas Image Gets New Focus". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ a b US Department of State: Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy
- ^ a b "Awards". June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.