Russell Simmons, Majora Carter and Bhai Mohinder Singh Will Be 2008 Hollister Award Recipients

NEW YORK, May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Russell Simmons, music industry pioneer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, will receive a 2008 Hollister Award on September 18, 2008 from the Temple of Understanding (ToU) in honor of his work to bridge the divide between people of different religions and cultures.

Majora Carter, the second awardee, will be honored for her work to bring social and environmental justice to poor and disenfranchised communities around the world. She is a leading urban revitalization strategist, the founder of Sustainable South Bronx, and a 2005 MacArthur "Genius" Fellow.

Bhai Mohinder Singh, the third awardee, is the leader of the largest Sikh community in the United Kingdom. He will be honored for his work as an intra- and inter-faith educator and for his dedication to advancing interfaith issues at the United Nations.

The three awardees will join a distinguished list of past recipients, which includes: His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Dr. Wangari Maathai, Peter Max, Daniel Pearl, Fr. Thomas Keating, Queen Noor of Jordan, Maestro Ravi Shankar and Dr. Thomas Berry.

The United Nations Delegate's Dining Hall is the location for this year's event. Among the 300+ guests, UN dignitaries, leaders of national and international organizations, past awardees, corporate leaders, religious dignitaries, and music industry leaders are expected to attend.

The Hollister Award is presented to religious figures who bring interfaith values into the place of worship; and secular figures who promote greater understanding of spiritual values in areas such as the arts, education, media, government, science, law and ecology.

The Temple of Understanding is a leader in educating youth and adults cross culturally and inter-religiously in order to alleviate fear and hatred between different ethnic and religious groups. Founded in 1960 by Juliet Hollister, with the support of Eleanor Roosevelt and leaders from religion and politics, ToU is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and NGO in Consultative Status with the United Nations.

The Executive Director of ToU is Alison Van Dyk. His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama is one of the Honorary Chairpersons. The co-Chairpersons are Sherry B. Bronfman, Marshia Glazebrook, and Laxmi Shah.

If you'd like further information or to schedule an interview, please
contact Andrea Brown at 212-573-9224, ext 22 or
info@templeofunderstanding.org

Source: The Temple of Understanding

CONTACT: Andrea Brown of Temple of Understanding, +1-212-573-9224, ext.
22, +1-646-522-0529 (Mobile), info@templeofunderstanding.org

Web Site: http://www.templeofuderstanding.org/