Lynn and Foster Friess create the $50,000 Friess Free Enterprise Prize,
to be Awarded at the 21st Annual Movieguide® Awards, Feb 15th.
By Natalie Fertig
As the buzz for the 21st Annual Movieguide® Awards builds, the show famous for singling out family-friendly movies has announced a new award to their roster.
Foster Friess and his wife, Lynn Friess, sponsor the Friess Free Enterprise Prize, an impressive addition to the Hollywood awards landscape. Accompanied by an impressive $50,000, the Prize awards the movie that, “through fine craftsmanship and inspirational storytelling, does the most to encourage appreciation of free markets, ownership, and stewardship.”
Lynn and Foster Friess are well-known humanitarians, donating millions of dollars to aid organizations across the world. In December, Friess gave $1 Million to Charleston-based Water Missions International, which take clean-water systems to people in developing countries.
Recipient of the 2012 Horatio Alger Award, Foster Friess works to inspire the rest of America to join in with his generosity. In 2010, Friess offered a challenge grant, matching the first $2 million raised for the Haiti Renewal Fund.
The Friess Free Enterprise Prize is designed to encourage and honor these same values in film. Recognizing the important influence the film industry has on the rest of society, Friess and Movieguide® are partnering to honor films in which the message encourages humanitarianism and understanding of free markets.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Friess dedicates much of his time to political advocacy. His most recent project, “Left Right Left Right Forward March!” is designed to bring together key players from both the right and the left of politics on topics they can agree on. The first undertaking for “Forward March!” is to tackle the international clean water problem. According to his website, Foster stated “our differences should not pit us against each other, for ‘a house divide against itself cannot stand.’ There are so many ways we can find common ground.”
Friess’ duty to humanity comes from his religious viewpoints. He credits biblical values as being the cause for his decision to donate so much of his money. He has stated on multiple occasions that God blessed him with his wealth, and the only logical answer would be to bless others with it. He seems to be carrying this out, for the Friess name can be found in the donor lists of a myriad of humanitarian organizations and universities. Friess even celebrated his 70th birthday by giving away $7.7 million to guests’ favorite charities. “The Lord really knew what he was doing when he gave Foster and Lynn all the money, because they really love to give it away,” said one of the birthday guests.
The first $50,000 Friess Free Enterprise Prize will be presented at the 21st Annual Movieguide Awards on February 15th, 2013. The Awards will be hosted by Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), and his daughter Gia Mantegna (In the Land of Women, 13 Going on 30), at the Universal Hilton Hotel in Universal City, CA.
NOMINATIONS FOR THE FRIESS FREE ENTERPRISE PRIZE: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, HERE COMES THE BOOM, JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI, THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, WON’T BACK DOWN.
– – – –
The Movieguide® Awards Gala will be broadcast on The Hallmark Movie Channel following the event. For more information, contact American Television International.
For the full list of winners and more information about the Movieguide Awards, visit movieguideawards.com.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
- Content: +2Share:
- Content: +4