Leading By Example Award
The Coptic Orphans Leading by Example Award honors pioneers whose character and achievements make them role models in Egypt and around the world.
The Board of Directors of Coptic Orphans is proud to present the Leading by Example Award to those individuals who have truly embodied values treasured by Coptic Orphans, including a spirit of volunteerism, a love of children and education, a commitment to giving back to the community, and a deep and enduring devotion to an Egypt of respect, prosperity, and peace for all people.
The following distinguished individuals are past recipients of the Leadership by Example Award:
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, accepted the Leading by Example Award in person at the Coptic Orphans 25th Anniversary Gala in the greater Toronto area on Sept. 28, 2014.
Dr. Raymond Schinazi is an Egyptian-born scientist who discovered the cure for Hepatitis C. Dr. Schinazi shared the formula for Solvadi, the life-saving treatment, with Egypt at 1% of the cost to help eradicate the disease in his homeland. He received the Leading by Example Award at the 2019 Gala in Huntington Beach, California.
Mark Morgan is a Partner at the national law firm of Day Pitney LLP. He also serves on various civic and charitable organizations, including the Family Center for Autism. He received the Leading by Example Award at the September 24, 2017 Gala in Weehawken, New Jersey.
Dr. Nermin Samir holds a PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry & is a lecturer at Ain Shams University. Nermin lost her daughter, Maggie, during the terrorist attack on Elbotrosia Church, yet has since demonstrated compassion and forgiveness. She was honored with the Leading by Example Award at the Coptic Orphans 30th Anniversary Gala in Washington D.C. on October 2, 2018.
Jeff Fortenberry represents Nebraska’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for the expenditures of the United States government. Jeff accepted the Leading by Example Award in Cairo, Egypt on August 22, 2016.
Nick Kaldas, APM, Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force and holder of the highest political position for an Egyptian born in Australia, accepted the Leading by Example Award in person at the Coptic Orphans 25th Anniversary Gala in the greater Sydney area on November 9, 2014.
Renowned former NASA scientist Dr. Farouk El-Baz, who is currently a member of the Advisory Council of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, accepted the Leading by Example Award in person at the Coptic Orphans 25th Anniversary Gala in the greater Washington, DC area on October 11, 2014.
Egyptian businessman, Naguib Sawiris, was a joint recipient of the 2008 Leading by Example Award during the Coptic Orphans 20th Anniversary Gala at the Marriott New York Downtown on Saturday, October 18, 2008.
Renowned Egyptian philanthropist and humanitarian, Ola Ghabbour, was the joint recipient of the Leading by Example Award during the Coptic Orphans 20th Anniversary Gala at the Marriott New York Downtown on Saturday, October 18, 2008.
Egyptian actress and celebrity, Yousra, a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) goodwill ambassador, received the Leading by Example Award for her philanthropic and humanitarian work at the Coptic Orphans’ Fourth Annual Gala and awards ceremony held April 28, 2007 at the William F. Bolger Center in Potomac, MD.
Rev. Kathleene B. Card, an Elder in the United Methodist Church, a teacher, administrator, and former Director of External Affairs at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, received the Leading by Example Award at the Coptic Orphans Gala at the Embassy of Colombia in Washington, DC on October 27, 2005.
Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Liz Cheney, received the Leading by Example Award at Coptic Orphans’ Second Annual Gala, “An Evening with Shakespeare” held April 24, 2004 at the Cannon Building of the House of Representatives.