Emmy & Golden Globe Award-Winning Actress Alfre Woodard to Receive Pathfinder's Peace Award at Six Billion Paths to Peace Launch

Emmy & Golden Globe Award-Winning Actress Alfre Woodard to Receive Pathfinder's Peace Award at Six Billion Paths to Peace Launch

SAN FRANCISCO, April 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Shinnyo-en Foundation announced today that it will honor Emmy and Golden Globe Award- winning actress Alfre Woodard with the Pathfinder's Peace Award at the Six Billion Paths to Peace Forum at 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2007, at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California. Woodard will be honored for her path to peace in promoting democracy both here and abroad and increasing awareness about the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Martin Sheen and distinguished MacArthur Foundation Fellow Rueben Martinez also will be honored at the Forum.

"Alfre Woodard's path to peace has touched millions affected by the AIDS epidemic and given hope to our leaders of tomorrow, the children of South Africa," said Harumitsu Inouye, Executive Director, Shinnyo-en Foundation. "We are in awe of her tireless efforts to use the fame and recognition she has achieved through her artistic work to play this important leading role on the world stage, contributing to greater harmony among humankind."

Woodard is one of the first recipients of the Pathfinder's Peace Award which inspires individuals to find their own individual paths to peace, building more peaceful connections among people that might not otherwise exist. The Award will be given annually as part of the Shinnyo-en Foundation's new Six Billion Paths to Peace Project. The Project seeks to encourage individuals to practice peace in their daily lives. "Rather than viewing peace as something we hope to bring about some day, we see it as something that can be lived each day," explained Inouye. Woodard will join the Foundation and fellow honorees, Sheen and Martinez, in releasing doves of peace from the Nixon Library to officially launch the Six Billion Paths to Peace Project.

"Whether through my art or activism, I have always been drawn to roles that could possibly change the quality of people's lives for the better," said Alfre Woodard. "I am deeply honored to be recognized with the Pathfinder's Peace Award and encourage others to trailblaze their paths to peace."

Woodard is well-known for her television and movie roles which have been recognized with four Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe. Many of the roles she has undertaken speak to issues important to America, making her work as an actress particularly relevant. In addition to her artistic work, Woodard created Artists for a New South Africa (www.ansafrica.org), or ANSA, in 1989. ANSA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS, protecting civil and voting rights, fighting injustice and discrimination, and empowering youth to be the leaders of tomorrow. "Millions of children have been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and particularly in South Africa," said Woodard. "I founded ANSA in 1989 with my husband and fellow artists to shine a light on this epidemic and to help those who have suffered injustices here and in Africa."

Like Woodard, the Shinnyo-en Foundation Six Billion Paths to Peace Project hopes to inspire people to find their individual paths to peace, providing support to reflect upon how their daily actions contribute to peace. Support will include Path to Peace mini-grants, school curriculum and college scholarships, and sharing the message of peace through performances, presentations, podcasts and written materials.

The Shinnyo-en Foundation builds more caring communities by supporting educational programs that engage and inspire young people in meaningful acts of service. The Foundation's mission is to bring forth deeper compassion among humankind, to promote greater harmony, and to nurture future generations toward building more caring communities. Programs funded teach children the value of helping others in the spirit of goodwill and without regard to differences of faith or background. The Foundation was established in 1994 by Shinnyo-en, a lay Buddhist order whose members strive to live with utmost sincerity and respect for others.

The Six Billion Paths to Peace Forum is free and open to the public. Limited seating is available. Members of the public must register in advance to attend the Forum. To register for this event, individuals should visit http://www.sixbillionpaths.org/.

Forum check-in will begin at 5:00 p.m., with the formal program starting promptly at 5:30 p.m. A celebration reception open to Forum registrants will be held immediately after the Forum.

The Richard Nixon Library is located at 18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard, Yorba Linda, California. Complimentary parking will be available on the Library site.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: molly@tajimacreative.com

Source: Shinnyo-en Foundation

CONTACT: Karen Strickland of Tajima Creative, +1-415-661-4343, for
Shinnyo-en Foundation; or Jay Waterman of Block-Korenbrot, +1-323-634-7001,
for Alfre Woodard

Web site: tajimacreative.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: Members of the media wishing to cover the event should contact Karen Strickland at Tajima Creative (415-661-4343) to obtain credentials.

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