NEW YORK — Brought to you by the Webby Awards (https://www.webbyawards.com), the Anthem Awards (https://www.anthemawards.com), honors the purpose and mission-driven work of people, companies, and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, it defines a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities.
Over the past 20 years, we have witnessed a massive culture shift where humans worldwide have led and organized in new ways to build a more purpose-driven society. More than ever, people live their values and make active choices around the local and global impact of their daily actions — including the food they eat, the media they consume, the clothing they wear, the causes they support, and how they choose to spend their money.
For the second consecutive year, media personality and technology maven Shefik (https://shefik.info) has been named an official judge for the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards, where he served alongside a panel of esteemed judges, from companies such as The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, NAACP, GLAAD, Ben & Jerry's, Me Too Movement, The Atlantic, Nike Purpose, Etsy, CLIF Bar, and Unilever (https://www.anthemawards.com/judges-2/). The Anthem Awards judges are intellectually diverse leaders with renown across the impact industry. The judges expertise spans across issue areas such as LGBTQ+ advocacy, racial equity, climate justice, mental health, gun control, and so much more.
The 2nd Annual Anthem Awards is honored to present Special Achievement Awards to a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives, platform or work to bring attention to some of the most important issues of our time:
- Gloria Steinem (Anthem Lifetime Achievement)
- Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, Founders of Ben & Jerry’s (Anthem Vision Award)
- Billy Porter (Anthem Beacon Award)
- Gabrielle Giffords (Anthem Advocate of the Year)
- Amanda Gorman (Anthem New Icon)
- Oleksandra Matviichuk, on behalf of the Center for Civil Liberties and the People of Ukraine (Anthem Movement of the Year)
- Quannah Chasinghorse (Anthem Special Achievement)
- Abigail Disney (Anthem Special Achievement)
- Hamdi Ulukaya (Anthem Special Achievement)
Anthem Awards was launched in response to the prevalence social good has taken within the national conversation and cultural zeitgeist in recent years. The 2nd competition received nearly 2,000 entries from 43 countries worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. A portion of program revenue will fund a new grant program supporting emerging individuals and organizations working to advance the causes recognized in the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards.
Winners for the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards will be celebrated at the Winners Celebration on February 27, 2023 in New York City. Fans will be able to hear from social impact leaders and their hallmark speeches at at https://www.anthemawards.com.
"Since launching this platform in June of 2021, we have seen that social change has emerged as a dominant force in mainstream culture," says Jessica Lauretti, Managing Director at Anthem Awards. "The sheer number, breadth and overall quality of the entries shared with us in the 2nd Annual Awards is a testament to the strength of this growing movement and demonstrates an enduring commitment to the work that is both humbling and inspiring to see. From the war in Ukraine, to protests in Iran and the ongoing battle for equality here at home in the States, the call for change not only perseveres but is a growing global chorus."
This year's winners include CBS Studios, Global Citizen, AARP, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), American Museum of Natural History, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Consumer Reports, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Al Jazeera Digital, Ad Council, TRT World, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, Human Rights Watch, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, MetroPlusHealth, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, ITVS, Savannah College of Art and Design, Brooklyn Public Library, American Red Cross, Thred Media, and GoodUnited. The complete list of winners can be viewed at https://www.anthemawards.com/winners/.
"I am deeply honored to once again serve as a judge for the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards," adds Shefik. "It is still vital that we continue to strive towards defining and refining respectable values for society — values that live up to ideals of accountability and acceptability."
Join Shefik and the entire Anthem Awards team, in igniting the spark to encourage all humans to make a substantive and positive change in the world.
About Shefik
Sir Shefik Macauley (https://shefik.info), known mononymously as Shefik, is an accomplished industry insider, who has appeared on MTV, SiriusXM, PBS, BET, network television, and in print media, as well as internationally on TRT World (Turkey). For his charitable and philanthropic work throughout the years, Shefik was bestowed with the rank of Knight in the Equestrian Order of Michael Archangel (http://www.michaelarchangel.org). The Order is recognized by heads of state, being subjected to the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan (http://www.royalghassan.org), which is in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Shefik was also bestowed the rank of Knight Commander in the Royal Order of the Obeng II, subjected to the Royal House of Sefwi Obeng-Mim (Ghana) (https://www.royalhousemim.org). Celebrating over 25 years in the entertainment and technology industries, Shefik has held senior-level positions at many Fortune 500 companies and celebrated brands, including IBM, NBCUniversal, MTV World, Merck, Merriam-Webster, and Wolters Kluwer. As a videographer and producer, his work has been featured in television broadcasts and video productions for TIME, The Washington Center, "Unsung" (TV One), and Broadway World. Additionally, his photography has been featured in print and online publications, such as Daily Mail (United Kingdom), Harvard Kennedy School Magazine, Playbill, and China Press. He is currently the Executive Producer and Host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Shefik presents Invocation" (https://invocation.co), which is broadcast over 20 terrestrial radio stations and frequencies throughout the United States, as well as the internationally syndicated video series of the same name, via Amazon and other notable outlets.
Last Updated: March 24, 2024
