| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC September 4, 2007 Nominations Open for Benjamin Franklin Award for Public DiplomacyThe U.S. Department of State will accept nominations for the new Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy from September 15, 2007 through December 15, 2007. The award is one of the most prestigious honors that the Department can bestow on American citizens who are making outstanding contributions to public diplomacy, both at home and abroad.
The award was officially announced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in January 2007 at the Department’s first Private Sector Summit for Public Diplomacy and reflects the Secretary’s conviction that the solutions to the challenges of the 21st century will come from all sectors of American society working together. Benjamin Franklin Awards will be presented in four categories: individuals, corporations, academic institutions (schools, universities, etc), and not-for-profit organizations (non-governmental organizations, foundations, associations, etc.). Special emphasis will be given to activities and programs that provide hope and opportunity in education, culture, and information; empower, educate, and inspire key audiences such as women, students, and educators; and engage under-served communities and grassroots organizations. Nominations will be accepted from any individual or group. Those submitting nominations need not be U.S. citizens, but all nominees must be U.S. citizens. The nominated activity must have taken place during calendar year 2007, and nominations will be considered only for activities that do not involve U.S. government funding. The award will be presented in Spring 2008. The nomination form and criteria are available on http://www.state.gov/r/partnerships/award/ or by sending an email request to diplomacyupdate@state.gov. 2007/729 |
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