Logos Consulting Group joined prominent journalists, activists, religious leaders, and policymakers as a sponsor of the Interfaith Alliance Foundation’s 11th Annual Walter Cronkite Faith & Freedom Award Gala on November 11. The ceremony was held in the historic Rainbow Room in New York’s Rockefeller Center. Logos Consulting Group president Helio Fred Garcia with Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award winners Asra Nomani (left) and Judy Sheppard.

The Walter Cronkite Faith & Freedom Award, established in 1998, recognizes individuals who courageously promote democratic values, defend religious liberty, and reinvigorate informed civic participation. The award recognizes individuals whose actions have embodied the values of civility, tolerance, diversity, and cooperation in the advancement of public dialogue and public policy on traditionally controversial and divisive issues.

This year's honorees were Asra Nomani, Judy Shepard and Rabbi Irwin Kula for their work toward equality, liberty and a truly inter-religious community. All three have broken dfown barriers in their work, uniting people from diverse backgrounds to challenge extremism, intolerance and injustice.

Asra Nomani, a former Wall Street Journal reporter, led the Pearl Project, an investigation into the murder of Daniel Pearl, who was a guest at her home in Pakistan when he was kidnapped and killed in 2002. As the leader of the Pearl Project at Georgetown University, Ms. Nomani brought together students to explore the tough questions surrounding the murder, including the underlying politics of the crime and the lessons we can draw from this tragic intersection of cultures. She is the author of Standing Alone: An American Woman’s Struggle for the Soul of Islam.

Mrs. Judy Shepard lost her son, Matthew Shepard, in a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. That tragedy became a symbol of the need to pass national hate crimes legislation. Mrs. Shepard is an international spokeswoman, activist and executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. She is focused on a vision to replace hate with compassion, acceptance and understanding.

Rabbi Irwin Kula, as President of CLAL: The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, is at the forefront of the discussion of religious expression in this country. Known as both a provocative religious leader and a respected spiritual iconoclast, Rabbi Kula has inspired thousands nationwide using Jewish wisdom in ways that speak to modern life. He is the author of Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life and is a regular guest on The Today Show.

Logos Consulting Group president with Walter Cronkite in last year’s (2007) Faith and Freedom Awards ceremony.

Logos president Helio Fred Garcia is a member of the board of trustees of The Interfaith Alliance.