Humanitarian award: Pres. Benson is honored for lifetime of service
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For his more than 40 years of worldwide service, President Ezra Taft Benson has been given the first Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Charity Awards Dinner (NCAD).
The award, presented to President Benson Jan. 16 by Doug Wead, co-founder of NCAD, was the first award given by the organization for lifetime humanitarian service. Previous awards, Wead said, have been given for humanitarian service in a given year."The Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes exceptional accomplishments by an individual on behalf of his fellow man," Wead explained.
President Benson was recognized for his humanitarian service following World War II in war-devastated Europe.
"In 1946, Mr. Benson covered 102 European cities, many destroyed by the war, in 105 days, reaching out to those suffering from the ravages of World War II," Wead noted, "However, as a result of his persistence, food, clothing, bedding and medical supplies were delivered to thousands of victims who were most in need."
President Benson was also recognized for his eight years as Secretary of Agriculture and for his leadership as president of the Church.
Wead said during the time President Benson was Secretary of Agriculture in the Eisenhower Adminstration, he authorized large shipments of U.S. food surpluses to Italy, which was on the verge of starvation. In appreciation, the Italian government awarded President Benson with the High Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1957.
"[PresidentT Benson also formulated the idea for Eisenhower's Food for Peace program in 1960 which used farm surpluses to establish and reinforce friendly ties with foreign nations," Wead commented. "Eventually the program supported humanitarian efforts and economic development in more than 80 countries."
In his position as president of the Church, President Benson was specifically honored for the work of the LDS job placement program, which, during his presidency, has found employment for nearly 300,000 people.
The National Charity Awards Dinner, founded in 1979 by Wead and entertainer Pat Boone, was held in Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 23 with President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan as honored guests.
