The North Star Fund Award honors New Yorkers committed to social change for equality, economic justice and peace. The 2010 Honorees are:

Katherine Acey

Katherine Acey is Executive Director of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. She has been a visionary leader at Astrea for 22 years, prior to which she served as Associate Director of North Star Fund.

Maria Casteneda

Maria is Secretary-Tresurer for 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest healthcare workers union in the country and a leader in protecting and improving the lives of healthcare workers throughout the Northeast. 1199 SEIU fights for living wage laws, universal health care, safe working environments and reasonable working hours, and protection for immigrant laborers.

Asad Mahmood

Asad is Managing Director of the Global Social Investment Fund at Deutsche Bank, and is responsible for its microfinance efforts in 41 countries. He is a catalytic leader, bringing together development agencies, foundations, and socially motivated commercial investors.

Katrina vanden Heuvel

Katrina vanden Heuvel is the editor and publisher of the magazine The Nation, the oldest political-opinion weekly in the US, and has been an outspoken champion for progressive journalism and politics for her entire career.

Frederick Douglass Award

Recognizing grassroots groups creating equality, economic justice and peace. The 2010 Honorees are:

Brandworkers International

Brandworkers trains workers in the retail and food industries to organize workplace justice campaigns. They recently announced a major settlement guaranteeing a living wage and safer working conditions for workers at Wild Edibles.

Women on the Rise Telling HerStory (WORTH)

WORTH is a visible and powerful voice for formerly and currently incarcerated women. In 2009, they won a campaign to stop the shackling of women while giving birth.

North Star Fund Public Servant Salute

Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate
John C. Liu, New York City Comptroller
Diane Savino, New York State Senator

Community Gala Co-Chairs:

Oona Chatterjee
Joe Conason and Elizabeth Wagley
Helen Hunt
Nancy Meyer and Marc Weiss
Lisa Philp and Bill Bragin
Michael Ratner and Karen Ranucci
Maggie Renzi and John Sayles
Mark Reed and Daria Ilunga
Maggie Williams