Mrs. Mary Beahn, LHS will be the 2009 recipient of the HCEF’s President’s Award in recognition of her dedication as a humanitarian and diligence as a volunteer serving HCEF and the Christian causes in the Holy Land.

SambiThe HCEF President’s Award is given annually to an individual who has demonstrated their solidarity with the Christians of the Holy Land through acts of love and support on their behalf. This is the Foundation’s highest award for volunteers.

In announcing the award, Mr. Rateb Rabie, President and CEO of HCEF stated: “Your outstanding acts of love and service over many years illustrate your dedication as an HCEF volunteer in numerous ways. You are not only one of the most thoughtful people I know, but you are a very living example of Christ-likeness.”

Amongst her many other responsibilities as a wife, mother and grandmother, Mrs. Beahn has served HCEF in a leadership capacity as a volunteer in varied capacities, some simultaneously. She spearheaded and created the Holy Land Outreach Committee at her parish, St. Jude’s in Rockville. She developed the parish partnership between St. Jude’s and the Queen of Peace parish in Birzeit, Palestine. Through her, the outreach committee and the HCEF Child Sponsorship Program support for Arab Christian children and families was established. For many years, she also organized the ‘Holy Land Day’ boutiques at her church, which featured the handcrafts of Christian artisans in Palestine. She has served as the Awards Banquet Chairperson for several years, as well as being the unheralded volunteer assisting with the planning and execution of the HCEF International Conferences.

The HCEF President’s Award will be presented to Mrs. Mary Beahn at the Foundation’s 11th International Conference Awards Banquet on the evening of Friday, October 23, 2009 at the Bethesda Marriott, 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, Maryland. Other 2009 Award recipients include:

· The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem will receive the 2009 Living Stones Solidarity Award. His Eminence John Cardinal Foley, Grand Master, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem will receive the award on their behalf.

· Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States will be awarded the 2009 Path of Peace Award and

· Samir Abu-Ghazaleh, M.D., KC*HS will receive the 2009 HCEF Award

Express your ‘Congratulations’ for any of the Awardees today by submitting a salutation for publication in the Conference Program Book. Visit us online at www.hcef.org and click this link: Honor the Awardees with a Salutation

For more information about HCEF’s 11th International Conference please click on these helpful links:

Conference Registration

Conference/Awards Banquet Sponsor opportunities

Sponsor a Banquet Table

Honor the Awardees with a Salutation

Place an Ad in the Conference Program Book

2009 Award Recipients

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