CWS event to commemorate first annual John Backer award
Wednesday, August 8, 2012

On October 25, 2012, CWS will present the 1st annual John Backer award to a person exemplifying long-time volunteer and employee John Backer's 60+ years of dedication to the IRP program at CWS.

Exhibit celebrating CWS’s 65 years resettling refugees, at a July 2011 event held in the Museum of the City of New York. Photo: Tom Hampson/CWS

On October 25, 2012, Church World Service’s Immigration & Refugee Program will hold a special fall event. Held at the Museum of the City of New York, the event will commemorate the first annual John Backer Award, to be given to a person exemplifying long-time volunteer and employee John Backer’s 60+ years of dedication to the IRP program at CWS.

The Museum of the City of New York, the venue for CWS's October 25 event. Photo: Tom Hampson/CWS

The award will be given to a refugee and/or other champion of immigration and refugee rights. The October event will be a celebration of the loving and determined spirit of one man for this important cause, and of the many cheerleaders that refugees and immigrants have had nationwide. It will also be an opportunity to draw attention to the important issues this country still faces regarding immigration and refugee work heading into the November elections.

The cocktail reception will also feature prominent speakers from the private sector and from the political arena, as well as a viewing of CWS’s debut in the PBS series “Visionaries.” CWS was chosen by “Visionaries” as the subject for the season premiere of the documentary show, and attendees will have a chance to see parts of the important work CWS is doing around the world.

Mr. Backer assisted directly or indirectly in the resettlement of tens of thousands of refugees from around the world, including Hungary, Cuba and Indochina, thus contributing immeasurably to CWS’s resettlement of 500,000 refugees from around the world since 1946. He passed away in December of 2011, and was still dedicating nearly a full work week to CWS at the time of his passing.

For further information about the event, as well as to make a donation in support of our work, please contact Beth Oppenheim, Associate Director for Resource Generation or visit the event page.