We would like to spread the word about the new Freedom from Fear award, founded by Geri Mannion and Taryn Higashi, co-recipients of the Council on Foundations 2009 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking.

The “Freedom from Fear” award is a new national award that will honor fifteen ordinary people who have committed extraordinary acts of courage on behalf of immigrants and refugees — individuals who have taken a risk, set an example, and inspired others to awareness or action. The award seeks to honor unsung heroes who are not professional advocates. Based on nominations from ordinary people, awardees will receive $5,000 cash awards.

The Freedom From Fear Award takes its name from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous “four freedoms” speech 70 years ago in which he outlined four fundamental freedoms that people “everywhere in the world” ought to enjoy:

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

The deadline for nominations [1] is Feb. 28, 2011.

You can learn more on Youtube [2] or download a Freedom from Fear poster. [3]