Pillars of Justice Award
About the Award
The Pillars of Justice Award honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to advancing justice, equity, and human rights. It recognizes leaders who have dedicated their lives to fighting for fairness, dismantling systemic inequities, and creating a more inclusive society. This award represents Appleseed's commitment to celebrating those who stand as steadfast champions for change, embodying the spirit of justice in every community they serve.
Award History
Past recipients of Appleseed's Pillar of Justice Award have been extraordinary champions of social justice, human rights, and equity. These honorees include individuals who have tirelessly advocated for the marginalized, spearheaded transformative legal reforms, and demonstrated a lifelong commitment to making our communities fairer and more just. Each of their contributions has significantly impacted the pursuit of justice, reflecting the core values of the Appleseed Network.
History of Pillars Event
Since its inception, the Pillars of Justice event has served as a cornerstone for recognizing and celebrating individuals who have dedicated their lives to advancing social justice and equity. This annual gathering brings together community leaders, advocates, and supporters to honor those making a profound difference in the fight for justice. Over the years, the event has highlighted the tireless work of change-makers whose contributions inspire action and demonstrate the power of collective effort toward a fairer society.
The Appleseed Foundation was proud to name Steve Schulman, Agnieszka Fryszman, and Dr. James Hildreth as the recipients of the 2025 Appleseed Pillars of Justice Award, held at the National Union Building on September 16, 2024.
The Appleseed Foundation was proud to name Sherrilyn Ifill, Wade J. Henderson, and Jamie Levitt as the recipients of the 2024 Appleseed Pillars of Justice Award, held at the University of the District of Columbia on September 12, 2024.
The Appleseed Foundation and New York Appleseed were proud to name Maya Wiley, Raymond Lin, and Markus Green & Pfizer as the recipients of the 2023 Appleseed Pillars of Justice Award, held on September 19, 2023 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York City).
On September 14, the Appleseed Foundation presented our 2022 Pillars of Justice Award to Inspire Change for their work with Alabama Appleseed, Texas Appleseed, and other nonprofits. Since the launch of the initiative in 2017, the league has provided more than $244 million in grants to social justice organizations.
The 2021 Pillars of Justice Awards Celebration, hosted by the Appleseed Foundation on September 9, 2021, recognized individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to justice. Honorees included Dr. John Johnson, CEO of Edgeworth Economics, and Kiisha Morrow and Brenna DeVaney, co-presidents of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance, for their dedication to advancing diversity, inclusion, and pro bono legal work. The event took place virtually and celebrated these remarkable contributions to justice and equity.