NEW YORK,NY(SMI-AWARD-09.23.19)-The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, the interfaith non-profit organization that advocates for religious freedom and human rights, celebrated its 54th annual dinner award gala this evening-honoring Singapore Prime Minister " Lee Hsien Loong " with the 2019 World Statesman Award & Susan Wojcicki (CEO,YOUTUBE), Stephen M. Ross(CEO, Of Realted Co's) &  Timotheus Hottges (CEO  of Deutche Telekom AG ) received the 2019 Appeal of Concience Awards, during the annual United Nations Assemby Week and with business leaders & goverment officials in attendance at "The Pierre Hotel in NYC.

 

The World Statesman Award is the annual highest award given to leaders who support peaceful coexistence and mutual acceptance in multi-ethnic scocieties by the Appeal Conscience Foundation.

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Past recipients of the World Statesment award were given to: President Fernado Henrique Cardoso(Former Brazilian President), Mikhail Gorbachev (Former Soviet-Union President), Lee Myung-Bak, Nicolas Sarkozy; Prime Ministers David Cameron, Stephen Harper, John Howard, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Margareth Thatcher.

Other prominent leaders included King Juan Carlos I, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Dr. Henry Kissinger, and Madame Christine Lagarde. The ACF has also recognized prominent business leaders with the Appeal of Conscience Award such as: Bernard Arnault, Mary Barra, Barbara Bush, Michael Bloomberg, Rober Iger, Muhtar Kent, Coretta Scott King, Brian Moynihan, Virginia Rometty, Stephen A. Schwarzman, Masayoshi Son and Paul Volcker. 

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" Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was recognized for his skilled leadership in stewarding Singapore's development, for advancing regional and worldwide economic stability and peaceful coexistence and for fostering a society that embraces mutual acceptance and respect for all ethnic communities." said Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the appeal of Conscience Foundation." For supporting a knowledge-based economy and an education system that provides its citizens with the necessary skills and knowledge to survive in a globally competitive enviroment." 

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" It's my honor to accept the World Statesman Award. Singapore has embraced diversity and multiculturalism as fundamental ideas of our society. We strive to build a multi-racial, multi-lingual, and multi-religious society where people live peacefully and harmoniously together,"> said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. " Singapore shares the Appeal of Conscience's vision of a world underpinned by human dignity and respect." 

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There were three business leaders who received the 2019 Appeal of Conscience Awards,

 an award that is presented to visionary business executives with sense of social responsibility who uses their resources and vast rach across boundaries to better serve the global community.This year recipients were Timotheus Hottges (CEO of Deutsche Telekom AG), Stephen M. Ross (CEO of Related Co), and the CEO of YOUTUBE, Susan Wojcicki.

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According to Rabbi Arthur Schneier, " Timotheus Hottges was recognized for guiding and leading Deutsche Telekom Ag's significant support for education, culture, environmental 

sustainability and his dedicationto improving digital literacy and high respect for human rights.

 

"I am profoundly honored to receive this prestigious award as I share the beliefs of The Appeal of Conscience Foundation with the deepest conviction," stated Timotheus Hottges. " Freedom, democracy and human rights are the core values of humanity, and for me also define good corporate citizenship."

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" The Appeal of Conscience Foundation honoredStephen M. Ross for hus unparalleled support for higher educationand diversityof his philanthropy that has benefited communities across America," said Rabbi Arthur Schneier. "Mr. Ross has not only changed the Skylines of America's cities but his support for the arts, culture, medicine, race-relations and future stabiliuty will leave a lasting impact on our society." 

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"I'm honored to accept this award from an organization that has been on the forefront of developing greater understanding and advancing peace for over half a century," said Stephen Ross. 'Now more than ever, the Appeal of Conscience's fundamental advocacy for supporting mutual respect and understanding is extremely important."

 

"Susan Wojcicki has played a pivotal role in developing entirely new protocols for keeping children safe online and building safe communities free of hate-speech," said Rabbi arthur Schneier. " As our communicationmodes continue to evolve and so much if our interactions are online, YouTube's commitment to building communities of mutual acceptance, respect and understanding are essential for peace and stability." 

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"YouTube is committed to enabling understanding through dialogue," said Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube." In this new digital era, we seen an opportunityto promote peace, similar to the efforts of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, which has advocated for mutual understanding for more than 50 years. I'm honored to receive this award, and I thank the Foundation for encouraging all of us to do our part to make the world a better place." 

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Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, 1999 Appeal of Conscience World Statesman honoree, delivered an address and the aludatio at the Award Dinner.

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Cardinal Pietro Parolin , Secretary of State of the Vatican delivered greetings from Pope Francis. The invocation was delivered by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and the benediction by Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

 

Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman , CEO and Co-Founder of the Blackstone Group served as co-chair of the event and introduced Singapore Prime-Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Daniel L. Doctoroff , the Chairman and CEO of Sidewalk Labs introduced Stephen M. Ross. Timotheus Hottges was introduced by ACF Trustee, former United States Deputy Secretary State , Ambassador John Negroponte , the Vice Chair of McLarty Associates.ACF Trustee, Maurice Levy, the Chairman of Supervisory Board of Publicis Groupe introduced Susan Wojcicki.

 

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, provided words of welcome and support for the work of the Appeal of COnscience Foundation." As world leaders gather this week at the United Nations, we face numerous global challenges, from armed conflict to climate change and poverty. Hate speech and hate-based violence are on teh rise, striking at the core of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation's work. That is why I'm mobilizing the United Nations to support the protectionof religious sites and combat hate speech worldwide." 

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