Press Release
Appeal of Conscience Foundation to Honor Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever and Brian Moynihan, Chairman and CEO of Bank of America

The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith organization, will present the 2017 Appeal of Conscience Awards to three prominent global corporate leaders from the United States, Europe and Asia at the 52nd Annual Appeal of Conscience Awards Dinner to be held at the New York Hilton on Monday evening, September 18th.

The honorees are: Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, Brian Moynihan, Chairman and CEO of Bank of America and Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group.

“It is essential that corporate leaders follow the example of our three honorees in their efforts to better our world,” said Rabbi Arthur Schneier. “Governments across the globe need the cooperation and guidance of visionary leaders and courageous religious leaders who are committed to a civic and moral partnership in facing the challenges of a turbulent, volatile world in transition."

"The Appeal of Conscience Foundation is proud to honor Paul Polman whose vision has established an unprecedented standard in which the global business community accepts responsibility and commitment to use its resources and vast reach to create a positive impact worldwide," said Jerry Speyer, Chairman of Tishman Speyer and a Presiding Chairman of the Awards Dinner.

"I am honored to be a recipient of this prestigious award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation alongside two global leaders, Brian Moynihan and Masayoshi Son,” said Paul Polman. “Unilever is appreciative of the work that the foundation does to expand religious freedom and human rights worldwide under the thoughtful leadership of Rabbi Arthur Schneier."

"The Appeal of Conscience Foundation is pleased to recognize Brian T. Moynihan, a man of faith and a corporate leader with a sense of social responsibility, who, by deed and action, has advanced human dignity by encouraging a standard in global diversity and inclusion,” said Robert Kraft, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Kraft Group, the Principal Owner of the New England Patriots and a Presiding Chairman of the Awards Dinner.

“I am pleased to accept this honor on behalf of my teammates at Bank of America, where we deliver on our purpose by living our values,” said Brian T. Moynihan. “At the heart of our purpose is knowing that we succeed only when the people and communities we serve succeed.”

"The Appeal of Conscience Foundation proudly recognizes Masayoshi Son for channeling his successes into improving the lives of men and women across the globe,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of Blackstone, and a Presiding Chairman of the Awards Dinner. “A visionary business leader, he has used information technology to build bridges for peaceful coexistence among nations and used philanthropy to alleviate suffering and to better the future of humanity."

“With its long list of distinguished honorees, I am truly humbled to be recognized by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation,” said Masayoshi Son. “Since founding SoftBank in 1981, it has been my singular mission to harness the power of the Information Revolution for the betterment of people around the world. My work has just begun, however, and I am dedicated to ensuring that technology helps foster social harmony.”

The international event will bring together over 700 prominent leaders of business, religious and public life, foreign statesmen and the diplomatic corps in support of over half a century of the global interfaith Appeal of Conscience Foundation activities on behalf of religious freedom, human rights and tolerance and peaceful coexistence for over half a century.