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Sir John Marks Templeton
Sir John Templeton graduated from Yale University and was a Rhodes
Scholar at Balliol College, Oxford University. He is universally regarded as a pioneer in the development
of high-yield globally diversified mutual funds, founding the highly
successful Templeton Growth Fund and Templeton World Fund.
Born in rural Winchester, Tennessee, John Templeton once dreamed
of a career in full-time religious service. His first major philanthropic
endeavor was in 1972 through the establishment of the Templeton
Prize for Progress in Religion. Today, the Templeton Prize is the
world’s largest monetary award at roughly $1 million. The
first prize was given to the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Since
then, the Templeton Prize has been awarded each year, recognizing
a living individual who has shown extraordinary originality in advancing
humanity’s understanding of God and/or spirituality. Other
past recipients include the Reverend Billy Graham, author Aleksandr
Solzhenitsyn, and theoretical physicist and author Paul Davies.
In 1987, John Templeton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for
his philanthropic efforts, including his endowment of Templeton
College, Oxford. After selling the Templeton Group of mutual funds
in 1992, Sir John focused his talents on pioneering new ways to
create value and stimulate progress through philanthropy. Since
then, he has authored and edited over a dozen books. One of his
most recent, World Wide Laws of Life, is a collection of two hundred
eternal spiritual principles drawn from the works of essayists and
philosophers ranging from Socrates to Benjamin Franklin.
Now at 87, Sir John continues vigorously as a full-time philanthropist.
Through the establishment of the John Templeton Foundation in 1987,
Sir John utilizes his personal wealth to support over one hundred
programs worldwide, which serve three chief purposes. The first
is to stimulate serious, rigorous, progress-generating links between
the sciences and all religions. In particular, the Foundation encourages
development and scientific discovery in the spirit of a “humble
approach,” which recognizes the wisdom of the maxim, “how
little we know, how eager to learn.” The second purpose is
to promote appreciation for character-building as integral to a
free democratic society. The third purpose is to encourage appreciation
for the benefits of freedom, and free, fair, and open competition
as a basic principle of prudence and success in culture, religion,
politics, and economic life.
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Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and
Liberty
Faith and Freedom Award
Sir John Marks Templeton
Sir John Marks Templeton, we honor you here this evening because
your life stands as a dramatic example for others concerned with
the purposes of faith and freedom. You have been a shining success
in each of your endeavors, always in unique and innovative ways.
A financial genius, touted as “one of the authentic heroes
of Wall Street”, you explored paths your colleagues never
dreamed of, yet would later follow in droves. Even greater achievement
was to follow in your use of the fruits of this entrepreneurial
genius.
A pioneering philanthropist with wisdom to understand the tremendous
role of faith in the course of human history, you have captured
the attention of a world in desperate need of the ideas and concepts
upon which you have built your legacy.
Tonight, the Acton Institute proudly recognizes your innumerable
contributions to civil society by awarding you the Faith and Freedom
Award. Sir John, we are delighted to present this, the first Faith
and Freedom Award, in recognition of your exemplary commitment to
faith and freedom through civic, business, and religious life. Therefore,
by unanimous decision of the Acton Institute’s Board of Directors,
we are honored to salute you, Sir John Marks Templeton, on this
day, November 11, 2000. May God continue to bless you and your work.
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