Appeal of Conscience Foundation Presents 2014 Awards to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, The Walt Disney Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Iger, and General Motors Chief Executive Officer Mary T. Barra

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith organization, and its president and founder Rabbi Arthur Schneier, honored Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto with the World Statesman Award for his leadership of Mexico in making hard choices that seek to propel his nation and his people forward.  The award was presented by Dr. Henry Kissinger, the 1999 World Statesman awardee, at the foundation's annual dinner held at the Waldorf Astoria, on September 23^rd.

The Appeal of Conscience Foundation also honored Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, and Mary T. Barra, Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, with the Appeal of Conscience Award.

Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company and Co-Chair of the Dinner presented the award to Mr. Iger. Jerry Speyer, Chairman & Co-CEO, Tishman Speyer and the Chair of the Dinner presented the award to Ms. Barra.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the leader of the Archdiocese of New York offered a prayer and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Holy See extended greetings.

"President Pena Nieto was recognized for his vigorous leadership, new vision and as a stakeholder in global responsibility committed to economic and social development, peace, international and inter-cultural cooperation anchored in human rights, freedom, and tolerance," said Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation.  

The World Statesman Award honors leaders who support peace, prosperity and freedom by promoting tolerance, human dignity and human rights by championing these causes in their homeland and working with other world leaders to build a better future for all.

Rabbi Arthur Schneier also appealed to world leaders gathering at the United Nations General Assembly to standup to those who are endangering the peaceful coexistence of mankind. "The hijacking of religion by barbarians is the greatest crime against religion and humanity. We who enjoy religious freedom cannot be silent. In an interdependent world, hatred can spread and engulf us all. The sensibilities of mankind are being challenged on a daily basis. Innocent men, women and children have been savagely attacked and killed by those who corrupt and defile the name of God. They have made the persecution of religious minorities the order of their day. The plight of Christians in the Middle East, the rise of anti-Semitism across Europe, the tension between Muslims and Hindus divide societies around the world."

The Appeal of Conscience Award:

"The Appeal of Conscience Foundation honored Robert Iger for his leadership, integrity, and ongoing philanthropy," said Rabbi Arthur Schneier. "Under his direction, The Walt Disney Company has become one of the world's most admired companies, respected for its achievements as well as its social responsibility and commitment to use its resources and vast reach to create a positive impact in the global community."

In comments made when accepting the award, Iger said, "Today we live in an era where the miraculous is becoming commonplace, with an unprecedented ability to connect with people around the world. We're just beginning to realize the full potential of this global connectivity, but we're already seeing remarkable change.  Millions of voices once silenced by oppression can now be heard and information can now flow into the dark corners of the world where ignorance has fueled intolerance for far too long."

Iger also stated, "Unfortunately, the global forces of hate and violence are also using this technology to recruit and radicalize a new generation uploading their rhetoric and brutality to a worldwide audience with the push of a button. The same technology that brings this darkness into our lives also gives us the means to find and defeat the people behind it.  The global community has the power and the obligation to use these new tools to help undermine and eradicate these forces."

Rabbi Arthur Schneier said, "The Appeal of Conscience Foundation honored Mary T. Barra, a woman of integrity, an advocate of change and a corporate leader with a sense of social responsibility, who by deed and action has advanced human dignity and social justice, by encouraging a standard in which corporate America and global corporations accept responsibility."

"On behalf of the entire General Motors team, I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious award," Barra said.  "Under the visionary leadership of Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the important work of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation is needed now more than ever. With more than 200,000 employees globally, GM has made diversity a priority to empower everyone on our team to contribute to his or her full potential," she added.  "As a global company, we also strive to serve and improve the communities in which we live and work. Similarly, the Foundation's efforts to promote human rights and individual respect are timeless ideals for all of us to follow."

Michael Strahan, the co-host of LIVE with Kelly and Michael, and special co-host of Good Morning America served as Master of Ceremonies.

Carlos Slim Helu, President, Carlos Slim Foundation served as General Chair, and Dinner Chairs were Jose Antonio Fernandez, Executive Chairman, FEMSA; Manuel Medina-Mora, Co-President, Citi; and Jerry Speyer, Chairman & Co-CEO, Tishman Speyer.

The Honorary Co-Chairs of the dinner were former Secretaries of State Dr. Madeleine Albright, Hon. James A. Baker III, Dr. Henry Kissinger, Hon. Peter Peterson, Hon. Colin Powell and Hon. George Shultz. Hon. Peter Peterson and Hon. Paul Volcker also served as Honorary Co-Chairs.

Other Co-Chairs included John Catsimatidis, Paul Fribourg, Alan Horn, Muhtar Kent, Rupert Murdoch, Peter Thomas Roth, Adam Silver, Steven Swartz, and Steven Schwarzman.

The invocation was delivered by H.E. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, and the benediction by Archbishop Demetrios, Primate, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Past recipients of the World Statesman Award include: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2013), Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (2012), South Korean President Lee Myung-bak (2011), Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh (2010), British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (2009), French President Nicolas Sarkozy (2008), Chancellor Angela Merkel (2007) and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2006). Other recipients include former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, Romano Prodi, John Howard and King Juan Carlos I., President Mikhail Gorbachev and President Vaclav Havel.

About the Appeal of Conscience Foundation:

Founded in 1965, the ACF has worked on behalf of religious freedom, human rights and tolerance throughout the world. The interfaith coalition of business and religious leaders promotes mutual understanding, peace and interfaith dialogue. The Foundation believes that freedom, democracy and human rights are the fundamental values that give nations of the world their best hope for peace, security and shared prosperity.

SOURCE Appeal of Conscience Foundation