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Jeanne Head, R.N., UN Representative for National Right to Life Committee, Declared Winner Of Life Prizes Pro-Life Award

National Right to Life and International Right to Life U.N. Representative Is Among Recipients of $600,000 in Prizes Awarded to Greatest Heroes in the Movement

Natick, MA - The Gerard Health Foundation is pleased to announce Jeanne E. Head, R.N., National Right to Life Vice President for International Affairs and U.N. representative for both National Right to Life and International Right to Life, as one of six recipients of the 2009-2010 Life Prizes awards totaling $600,000.

Ms. Head's work to further the protection and value of life took her to the UN where she speaks on behalf of all life, ranging from the unborn to the aged, arguing for their protection under the law. With her background as an obstetric nurse, Ms. Head has devoted her life to highlighting and preserving the dignity of each life and has made contributions to provide for protection from abortion and other egregious treatment of life around the world.

Ray Ruddy, President of the Gerard Health Foundation, congratulated Ms. Head:

"Jeanne Head understands the ripple effect of abortion, as she has worked to restore a dignified view of all life in the international realm. Protecting the unborn, children, as well as mothers and the elderly is a great calling, and one in which Jeanne has succeeded. We are pleased to present her with this well-deserved award."

Jeanne Head accepted the award graciously:

"This Life Prizes award is such an honor, and I trust that it will help to raise the much needed awareness of the battle we must fight to protect life at all levels. My hope is that women and children around the world will be able to live without an oppressive system of law prohibiting that life."

The Life Prizes winners were measured by their success in saving lives and selected for best demonstrating their leadership and progress in pro-life achievements through public advocacy, scientific research, legal action, outreach and public discourse activities. Ninety (90) nominations were submitted on behalf of more than 100 esteemed nominators to the Gerard Health Foundation which worked in conjunction with a prestigious Selection Advisory Committee to evaluate each nomination and select the recipients.

Members of this committee who brought their own advocacy expertise and knowledge of the culture of life include Richard Doerflinger of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Peggy Hartshorn of Heartbeat International; Kay Coles James of the Gloucester Institute; and Jack Willke of Life Issues Institute.

The $600,000 in total prizes will be divided among all of this year's recipients, including the other five winners:

The $600,000 in total prizes will be divided among all of this year's recipients, including the other five winners:
Kristan Hawkins Executive Director, Students for Life of America
Alveda King, Founder, King for America
Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network
Douglas Johnson, Legislative Director, National Right to Life Committee
Marie Smith, Director of the Parliamentary Network for Critical Issues

The awards will be given at a ceremony held in Washington, DC on January 22, 2011.

About Life Prizes
Life Prizes is a program that awards those who have succeeded in awakening the conscience of America to uphold and preserve the sanctity of human life through their leadership and advances in public advocacy, scientific research, outreach and public disclosure activities, legal action, and other noteworthy achievements. The award is named the "Norinne A. and Raymond E. Ruddy Memorial Pro-Life Prize" to memorialize Mr. and Mrs. Raymond E. Ruddy, strong believers in the pro-life cause and parents of Raymond B. Ruddy, a pro-life philanthropist who has long supported and donated to life causes and charities throughout the world. In addition to recognizing those on the front lines of saving lives and who have most significantly advanced pro-life principles and practices, the initiative seeks to encourage and inspire the next generation of youth to accomplish great things in the name of life.