Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

Inclusion in Worship

Open Hearts Awards

Nominations are accepted from February 1st to 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.

Nomination Process and Requirements

Nominations for both the Open Hearts Awards and the Junior Open Hearts Awards must demonstrate the following:

• How people with disabilities are valued, welcomed and affirmed by the faith community
• How accommodations are provided so that meaningful participation is available to all
• How inclusion benefits individuals and the congregation as a whole
• How access and welcome are communicated to all
• How if chosen a winner, the award will help the congregation expand inclusion efforts

Nominations must use people first language. People-first language dignifies rather than demeans. When using people-first language, make reference to the person first, then the disability. Say "a person with a disability" rather than a "disabled person." For more information about people-first language, consult The Power of Words in our folder of inclusion materials.

Nominations must include the following information:

• Name, address, telephone, and fax of applicant's place of worship
• Name and signature of faith community's religious leader
• Applicant's name, address, telephone and title (if applicable)
• Junior Open Hearts Awards entrants must include their age

Click here for a printer-friendly Open Hearts Nomination Form listing all of the required information.

While not required, the submission of photos that illustrate how the congregation welcomes people of all abilities is encouraged. Electronic submission of photos is preferred; the photos submitted by entrants may be used on the Pathways Awareness Foundation website or in its publications.

Award nominations should be mailed to the following address:
Pathways Awareness Foundation
150 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60601
E-mail entries to: friends@pathwaysawareness.org
Fax entries to: 1-888-795-5884

Award recipients may reapply, provided they show how the congregation has expanded its inclusion efforts.

For a listing of previous Open Hearts award recipients click here.

Pathways Awareness Foundation reserves the right to determine criteria for evaluating entries and selecting award recipients. The program is administered subject to official rules. For official rules, send a self addressed, stamped envelope to Pathways Awareness Foundation.