Founding Spotlight Board Member Jack Kemp Honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom

OOTS was proud to learn today that President Obama named Spotlight founding board member, the late Jack Kemp, as one of only 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. We miss him, and this award gives us another way to remember and honor his work and life.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is America۪s highest civilian honor and is awarded to individuals “who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” In honoring Kemp, the White House noted that he was a self-described “bleeding heart conservative” who “worked to encourage development in underserved urban communities. In the years leading up to his death, Kemp continued seeking new solutions, raising public attention about the challenge of poverty, and working across party lines to improve the lives of Americans and others around the world.”

From the day of Spotlight’s launch, Jack Kemp۪s energy and passion for fighting poverty was evidentproving that this is not one party’s issue, but our whole country’s fight. In announcing the awards, the White House said the awardees were chosen for their work as agents of change. Jack Kemp was a fighter for change, and OOTS and Spotlight intend to honor his memory by continuing that fight until it is won.

Posted by The Spotlight Team

____________________________________________________

Here at “Out of the Spotlight” we love rumors and gossip (at least of the non-malicious type), so if you hear names that you think we should pay attention to, drop us a line at either mlaracy@aecf.org or watersboots@hotmail.com. We۪ll post new names as we get em! Of course, OOTS dishes on much more than who might be on the dream team. Check out “Out of the Spotlight” for our take on behind-the-scenes policy sparring, the twists and turns of political plans, and more. Contributions welcome!