Open Hearts Awards

Deadline for Nominations are accepted from February 1st to is August 1st of each year. Awards will be announced in September in conjunction with Inclusion Awareness Day.

Guidelines

Pathways Awareness Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness about barriers to participation that exist in many faith communities for persons with physical, mental, emotional, or sensory differences. The Open Hearts Awards program recognizes and grants funds to congregations that welcome people of all abilities into faith life. Winning congregations show outstanding efforts to include all people in their faith community and are models for other congregations.

The Open Hearts Awards Program offers two types of awards to faith communities in Cook, Lake, Will and DuPage counties in Illinois. The two awards programs, one for children and one for adults, recognize congregations that make it possible for people of all abilities to participate.

The Open Hearts Awards invite adults to submit a description (no more than 2 pages in length) of how their congregation welcomes people of all abilities into active membership. The entry can include photos of people with disabilities serving in active ministry or accessible features in the place of worship.

Awards of up to $1,000 will be granted to winning congregations to recognize their achievements and to allow them to expand their inclusion efforts.