On Thursday, September 24, 2020, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation held its 55th anniversary awards event as a virtual gathering, under the timely theme, “Respect the Other.”
The program—which featured and was viewed by leaders in the religious, civic, business, and diplomatic fields—turned out to be a very Armenian affair, with this year’s prestigious “Appeal of Conscience Award” being conferred on Dr. Noubar Afeyan. Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan offered a closing prayer, and former Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian gave a gracious introduction to the honoree.
The evening was led by the foundation’s founder and longtime president, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, who has been a friend and close associate of the Eastern Diocese and its leaders since the 1960s.
Notable individuals giving remarks included Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan; United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres; Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwartzman; and CBS Sunday Morning reporter Alina Cho, who hosted the evening’s broadcast. The event included a musical program featuring Broadway stars as well as a special choral performance by children.
Dr. Noubar Afeyan was honored with the 2020 “Appeal of Conscience Award” for his leadership “in helping to heal our wounded world at the time of the pandemic,” according to the award citation. The crystal trophy presented to him was inscribed with the words: “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”
In his generous acceptance speech, Dr. Afeyan said: “I like to think of honors like this not as an opportunity to reflect on past contributions, but rather as a reminder of all the work we need to do together.”
Dr. Afeyan—a longtime friend and supporter of the Eastern Diocese, chair of 2015’s National Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, and a co-founder of the “Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity”—isco-founder and chair of the biotech research company Moderna, which has been a leading innovator in research into a COVID-19 vaccine.
In his introduction of the honoree, Archbishop Barsamian called Dr. Afeyan “a man who sees the world as it is; envisions what the world could be; and then works—tirelessly—to make that vision a reality. He is very clear about the spirit that drives him in all his endeavors. He calls it ‘the immigrant mentality’: the ability to pick up and start over; to bravely enter new lands and new areas of interest; to nourish a sense of optimism and possibility in everything you do.”
Rabbi Schneier saluted Dr. Afeyan as“a man of faith, to whom God has given a gift: a great ability to apply in the service of humanity, and in the service of your faith, … in trying to find a solution to this plague” of COVID-19.
Towards the Betterment of Humanity
Bishop Daniel offered the closing prayer from within the sanctuary of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.
“We should all be proud of Dr. Afeyan’s achievements,” he said afterwards regarding the evening’s award presentation. “He is an entrepreneur, humanitarian, philanthropist, scholar, philosopher, gentleman—as well as a proud Armenian, and a man of faith. I know he’s motivated by a deep desire to direct his business and scientific work towards the betterment of humanity. That powerful feeling was truly evident in his remarks this evening.”
He added: “Rabbi Schneier is a remarkable man himself, whose vision to ‘Respect the Other’ is much needed today. He advocates for it passionately, personally, and eloquently. I was honored to be a part of the award program, and proud of the role Archbishop Barsamian played in the event, and continues to play in the Appeal of Conscience mission.”
A New York-based humanitarian organization, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation has advocated throughout the world on behalf of human rights and religious freedom since its inception in 1965 by Rabbi Schneier.The Eastern Diocese has long played an active leadership role in the organization under the tenures of Diocesan Primate’s Archbishop Torkom Manoogian and Archbishop Barsamian. This summer, Bishop Daniel was elected by unanimous vote to the foundation board of trustees.
Click on the following links to watch the entire recorded broadcast of the September 24 program (which lasts about 40 minutes), and to view photos.
Above (l-r): Rabbi Schneier, Cardinal Dolan, Dr. Afeyan, Bishop Daniel.