As part of its Open Faiths-Open Doors Week, the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council honored seven individuals, a congregation and two groups with "Bridge Builder Awards" for their leadership in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding, according to a news release from the council.
Among the honorees at the dinner were Eman Bermani of the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County for promoting a better and peaceful understating of Islam amongst the interfaith community; Jean Forbath, founder of Share Our Selves; Sande Hart, founder of Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope, an organization that brings women of all faiths together; Nancy Jenks, executive director of UCI Interfaith, which has been a safe harbor for students, staff and faculty to peacefully congregate and practice their faith; Dennis Short, leader of the Interfaith Hunger Walk, which has raised more than $427,689 in the past 20 years to feed the hungry; Beth Syverson, of the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, who founded the Interfaith Children's Choir; and Tom Thorkelson, with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who is the co-founder of the Orange County Interfaith Network.
