Appeal of Conscience Foundation Will Honor Corporate Global Leaders From United States, Europe and Asia: Brian Moynihan, Chairman and CEO of Bank of America, Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever and Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group to Receive 2017 Appeal of Conscience Awards

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Sep 06, 2017, 12:22 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith organization, which has brought together corporate and religious leaders for more than half a century who are dedicated to religious freedom, human rights and tolerance, and its president and founder Rabbi Arthur Schneier will present the 2017 Appeal of Conscience Awards to three prominent global corporate leaders from the United States, Europe and Asia at the 52^nd Annual Appeal of Conscience Awards Dinner to be held at the New York Hilton on Monday evening, September 18^th. The honorees are: Brian Moynihan, Chairman and CEO of Bank of America, Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever and Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group.

"It is essential that corporate leaders follow the example of our three honorees in their efforts to better our world," said Rabbi Arthur Schneier. "Governments across the globe need the cooperation and guidance of visionary leaders and courageous religious leaders who are committed to a civic and moral partnership in facing the challenges of a turbulent, volatile world in transition."

"The Appeal of Conscience Foundation is pleased to recognize Brian T. Moynihan, a man of faith and a corporate leader with a sense of social responsibility, who, by deed and action, has advanced human dignity by encouraging a standard in global diversity and inclusion," said Robert Kraft, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Kraft Group, the Principal Owner of the New England Patriots and a Presiding Chairman of the Awards Dinner.

"I am pleased to accept this honor on behalf of my teammates at Bank of America, where we deliver on our purpose by living our values," said Brian T. Moynihan. "At the heart of our purpose is knowing that we succeed only when the people and communities we serve succeed."

"The Appeal of Conscience Foundation is proud to honor Paul Polman whose vision has established an unprecedented standard in which the global business community accepts responsibility and commitment to use its resources and vast reach to create a positive impact worldwide," said Jerry Speyer, Chairman of Tishman Speyer and a Presiding Chairman of the Awards Dinner.

"I am honored to be a recipient of this prestigious award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation alongside two global leaders, Brian Moynihan and Masayoshi Son," said Paul Polman. "Unilever is appreciative of the work that the foundation does to expand religious freedom and human rights worldwide under the thoughtful leadership of Rabbi Arthur Schneier."

"The Appeal of Conscience Foundation proudly recognizes Masayoshi Son for channeling his successes into improving the lives of men and women across the globe," said Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of Blackstone, and a Presiding Chairman of the Awards Dinner. "A visionary business leader, he has used information technology to build bridges for peaceful coexistence among nations and used philanthropy to alleviate suffering and to better the future of humanity."

"With its long list of distinguished honorees, I am truly humbled to be recognized by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation," said Masayoshi Son. "Since founding SoftBank in 1981, it has been my singular mission to harness the power of the Information Revolution for the betterment of people around the world. My work has just begun, however, and I am dedicated to ensuring that technology helps foster social harmony."

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund will share remarks. Leaders of the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist religions will attend and greetings will be extended on behalf of Pope Francis by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See.

The Honorary Co-Chairs of the Awards Dinner are: Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, John D. Negroponte, Peter G. Peterson and Paul A. Volcker.

Those serving as Dinner Co-Chairs include Len Blavatnik, Founder and Chairman of Access Industries; John A. Catsimatidis, Chairman, President and CEO of The Red Apple Group; Michael L. Corbat, CEO of Citigroup; Paul J. Fribourg, Chairman and CEO of Continental Grain Company; Alex Gorsky, Chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson; Muhtar Kent, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company; Ronald S. Lauder, President of The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation; Maurice Lévy, President of the Supervisory Board of Publicis Groupe; Andrew N. Liveris, President, Chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company; Hon. Earle I. Mack, Senior Partner of The Mack Company; K. Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of News Corp.; Anthony J. Pratt, Global Chairman of Pratt Industries; Rev. Dr. Fred R. Anderson, Pastor Emeritus, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church; H.E. Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations; H.E. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America; H.E. Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; The Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn; H.E. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York; Imam Mohamed Magid, Executive Imam, All Dulles Area Muslim Society; H.E. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington; Rev. Joseph O'Hare, S.J., President Emeritus, Fordham University; and Rev. Dr. Robert A. Rimbo, Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The invocation will be delivered by H.E. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington DC, and Vice President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and the benediction by Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of Greek Orthodox Church.

The international event will bring together over 700 prominent leaders of business, religious and public life, foreign statesmen and the diplomatic corps in support of over half a century of the global interfaith Appeal of Conscience Foundation activities on behalf of religious freedom, human rights and tolerance and peaceful coexistence for over half a century.

SOURCE Appeal of Conscience Foundation