Past Honorees of the Karen Armstrong Humanitarian Awards
2024 Awardees
Rigoberta Menchú – Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Guatemala, Menchú has devoted her life to defending the rights of Indigenous peoples, promoting justice, and preserving cultural heritage through activism, writing, and education.
PeaceJam – An international education program that connects youth with Nobel Peace Prize laureates, inspiring service projects and nurturing a new generation of compassionate leaders.
Seeds of Peace – A global organization bringing together youth from regions of conflict to foster dialogue, leadership, and reconciliation through experiential peace education.
Kailash Satyarthi – Nobel Peace Prize laureate and tireless advocate for children’s rights, Satyarthi has led global campaigns against child labor and exploitation, freeing tens of thousands of children from slavery.
2023 Awardees
Ron Nirenberg – Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, recognized for championing Compassionate San Antonio and advancing policies rooted in equity, inclusion, and community well-being.
Valarie Kaur – Civil rights leader, filmmaker, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, Kaur is known for her message of love as a public ethic for social transformation.
Charles Barker – Global philanthropist and supporter of interfaith initiatives, Barker has invested in projects that uplift education, compassion, and cross-cultural understanding.
Scarlett Lewis – Founder of the Choose Love Movement, created after the tragic loss of her son at Sandy Hook, Lewis promotes courage, forgiveness, and compassion in schools and communities worldwide.
2022 Awardees
Riane Eisler – Cultural historian and author, Eisler is recognized for her groundbreaking work on social systems, promoting a “partnership model” rooted in compassion and equality, influencing global discourse in peace, gender equity, and sustainable economics.
Dr. Deogratias Niyizonkiza – A physician and advocate who founded Village Health Works, delivering healthcare, education, and community development in post-genocide Burundi, embodying compassionate practice in healing and empowerment.
Mary Robinson – Former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Robinson is a global leader for climate justice and human rights, advocating for marginalized voices and sustainable policy landscape.
United World Colleges (UWC) – A global educational movement uniting youth from diverse cultures to pursue peace and sustainability, UWC fosters cross-cultural understanding and compassionate leadership through immersive experiential learning.
2021 Awardees
9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows – A coalition of families transformed by grief into activists for peace, resilience, and nonviolent conflict resolution, promoting interfaith dialogue and healing.
Roshi Joan Halifax – A pioneering Buddhist teacher and social activist, Halifax integrates contemplative practice with engaged compassion, emphasizing care for the dying and the suffering through mindfulness-based approaches.
Cynthia Sears – Long-time leader in the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Sears champions educational equity, gender justice, and civic engagement with an unwavering moral compass.
Vandana Shiva – Environmental activist and eco-feminist, Shiva fights for biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and the rights of small farmers, making vital connections between ecology, social justice, and compassion for the Earth.
Rabbi Arthur A. Cohen Soetendorp (Rabbi Soetendorp) – Renowned interfaith leader and Holocaust survivor, bridging divisions with a message of compassion through dialogue, reconciliation, and global understanding.
The Parents Circle – Families Forum – A grassroots organization of bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families, working together for reconciliation, peace-building, and compassionate activism across trauma divides.
Krista Tippett – Journalist and author known for the On Being project, Tippett explores human values, spirituality, and compassion through profound conversations that inspire purpose and belonging.
Magdalena Woollery – Educator and advocate globally engaged in human rights and compassionate education, connecting lived experience with systemic transformation (further specific resources may be added).
Isabel Wilkerson – Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist, Wilkerson has illuminated systemic racism and empathy through her best-selling works, challenging readers to confront history and foster compassion.
2018 Awardees
Rev. Joan Brown Campbell – Longtime ecumenical leader and advocate for interfaith cooperation, Campbell has prayed, taught, and journeyed for social justice, inclusion, and healing across faith traditions.
Lianne Dalziel & the People of Christchurch, NZ – Recognized for their courageous and compassionate response to the 2019 mosque attacks, embodying collective healing and interfaith solidarity.
Imam Malik – Respected Islamic scholar who leads mosque community efforts toward interfaith connection, civic engagement, and compassionate education amid diversity.
Rotary International – A global service organization committed to promoting peace, fighting disease, and fostering education—their humanitarian outreach consistently models compassion in action.
Bishop William Swing – Episcopal bishop and founder of the United Religions Initiative, Swing has built platforms for interfaith peacebuilding and global compassion across religious divides.
2015 Awardee
Greg Fischer – Then-Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, Fischer championed initiatives rooted in inclusive governance, youth development, and community-based compassion through civic leadership.
2014 Awardees
AIDS LifeCycle – A community-powered fundraising ride raising awareness and support for HIV/AIDS prevention and care, showcasing collective compassion and solidarity.
Joan Blades – Co-founder of MoveOn.org and Living Room Conversations, Blades promotes civic dialogue, compassionate politics, and inclusive community conversations.
Chinatown Community Development Center (CDC) – Serving San Francisco’s Chinatown, the CDC supports affordable housing, urban equity, and community cohesion through compassionate neighborhood advocacy.
Dignity Health – A healthcare organization guided by the principle of “Dignity”—offering compassionate care to all individuals as a part of its core mission.
One Billion Rising – A global movement to end violence against women and girls, using dance, solidarity, and community activism to ignite compassion and justice.
Horizon Foundation – A philanthropic organization focused on advancing health, social cohesion, and civic innovation, rooted in compassionate community transformation.
Libby & Len Traubman – Philanthropists whose generosity and dedication have supported cultural bridges, educational equity, and grassroots compassion initiatives.
