Leadership Award

[Guest guest]

The Georgia Independent Living Network

A. Conant Leadership Award

Ackerman Conant (1924 - 2005) was a

successful business person and the guiding light of

the H. and Wilhelmina D. Harland Charitable

Foundation for more than 20 years. He gave hundreds

of thousands of his own money to nonprofit

organizations and millions more through the

foundation. The Harland Foundation, established in

1972, gave generously to the disability community by

providing grant funds to non-profit organizations

dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of

all people with disabilities. Mr. Conant understood

what it was like to face challenges and barriers

because of his own disability, a result of polio. In 2004,

the Georgia Independent Living Network established

the A. Conant Leadership Award to recognize the

impact made by the man and by the foundation he led.

In memory of this extraordinary person with a disability,

the Georgia Independent Living Network is now

accepting applications for the 2005 A. Conant

Leadership award. !

This $1,000 award will recognize a young person with

a disability for his or her outstanding leadership on

disability issues. To be eligible, an applicant must

* Be a Georgia resident with a disability age 30 or

younger.

* Demonstrate an understanding of the rights and

responsibilities of full citizenship.

* Advocate for the equal participation of people with

disabilities in the community.

* Be actively involved in removing barriers to

independence in their community and/or through

statewide advocacy efforts.

* Create opportunities for other people with disabilities

to set and achieve goals for independence.

* Perform all of these activities on a volunteer (unpaid)

basis.

Employees within the Georgia Independent Living

Network are not eligible.

Applicants must submit a 500-word essay describing

how they meet the above selection criteria and a

statement of their plans for the future. The essay may

be submitted in writing or on audiotape. A diverse

panel of professionals with disabilities will select the

winner. The winner will be notified by September 30,

2005 and asked to present their essay at the Georgia

Independent Living Network Celebration on November

4, 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Essays should be mailed to the address below and

post marked no later than August 31, 2005. Please call

if you have any questions. The written essay or audio

tape must include contact information, e.g. name,

address and phone number for the applicant.

Georgia Independent Living Network

Conant Leadership Award

1431-C McLendon Drive

Decatur, Georgia 30033

(770) 270-6860 (V), (770) 270-5671 (TTY) or (888)

288-9780 (toll free)