The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award(s) is presented as part of the annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast organized by Faith Bridge in Crystal Lake, IL. Faith Bridge wishes to acknowledge and encourage local youth in high school or college who strive, in their own ways, to bring about Dr. King’s vision of our Beloved Community through their compassionate actions and strength of character. This award can be given to an individual or a group of students.

As explained by The King Center, Dr. King’s Beloved Community is a global vision in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger, and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.

The Judy Engebretson Humanitarian Award is presented annually to a person or organization whose actions express Judy’s commitment to peace, justice, compassion, and mutual understanding. Judy was a dedicated Middle School teacher, a world traveler, and a participant and leader in the Interfaith movement. She completed FaithBridge’s Faith-to-Faith/Face-to-Face two-year interreligious training program and subsequently served on the FaithBridge Board. Active in her church, she taught Confirmation as well as presenting a multi-session Introduction to Islam in order to combat prejudice. She loved middle-schoolers, so this award will preferentially target that age group.