Appeal of Conscience Foundation Honors 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, SoftBank Group Receive 2017 Appeal of Conscience Awards

News provided by

Sep 19, 2017, 09:30 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 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 presented 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 at the New York Hilton on Monday evening, September 18^th. The honorees were: Brian Moynihan, Chairman and CEO, Bank of America, Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever and Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO, SoftBank Group.

2017 Appeal of Conscience Award Recipients: Rabbi Arthur Schneier (2nd from right), the president and founder of The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, presents the 2017 Appeal of Conscience Awards to Masayoshi Son (far left), Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, Brian Moynihan (2nd from left), Chairman and CEO of Bank of America and Paul Polman (far right), Chief Executive Officer of Unilever.

"Governments across the globe need the cooperation and guidance of corporate 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," said Rabbi Arthur Schneier. "It is essential that corporate leaders follow the example of our three honorees in their efforts to better our world."

"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 CEO, Kraft Group, Principal Owner of the New England Patriots and a Presiding Chairman of the Awards Dinner.

"I'm pleased to accept this award on behalf of my Bank of America teammates. All of us at tonight's dinner recognize the work of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and Rabbi Arthur Schneier's principle that tolerance is how society keeps its balance," said Brian Moynihan, Chairman and CEO, Bank of America. "My teammates and I work each day to provide great service to our clients, good returns for our shareholders, and responsible, sustainable growth for the communities we serve. We also know that having courageous conversations around difficult issues fosters tolerance and enables us to live our purpose."

"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, Tishman Speyer and a Presiding Chairman of the Awards Dinner.

"It's clear to me that business has a part to play in regaining our common purpose. In fact, I don't believe we can fix our broken society or our degraded environment without business. I'm encouraged because many businesses are stepping up. It is significant tonight, for example, that you have chosen to recognize three business leaders," said Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever. "A growing number of leaders are speaking out on everything from LGBT rights to climate change to civic protection; there is a rising tide of business leaders who see their role as putting their companies to the service of society, and not the other way around. But we need more and the task is urgent."

"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."

"I am very honored and flattered to receive this Award," said Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. "I founded SoftBank in 1981 to use power of the Information Revolution to make people happy, but there is much more we need to do," he added. "We recently created the SoftBank Vision Fund to accelerate the growth of entrepreneurs across the technology industry, and we believe they will address some of the biggest challenges facing humanity. My hope is that we can really deliver something meaningful to humanity over the long, long-term."

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund stated, "Making growth more inclusive and sustainable requires smart leadership, courage, and—above all—cooperation. I am optimistic that with organizations that seek to heal divisions and encourage dialogue, such as the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, and strong leaders such as those being honored tonight, we can make the world a more peaceful and prosperous place and advance on Sustainable Development Goals."

Leaders of the Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist religions were in attendance and greetings were extended on behalf of Pope Francis, by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, "Rabbi Arthur Schneier, yours has been a life dedicated to witnessing and teaching religious freedom, mutual respect and acceptance, and peaceful co-existence… in the firm belief that freedom, democracy and human rights are what will give the countries and nations of the world their best hope for peace and security, the full enjoyment of fundamental human rights, and shared prosperity. Pope Francis fully shares your conviction that a crime committed in the name of religion is the greatest crime against religion itself."

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

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