Congratulations to Elke Kennedy of Greenville, SC. Mrs. Kennedy is among the 2010 recipients of the Characters Unite Awards given by USA Network. USA Network along with its corporate partners selected eight winners from hundreds of nominees for their successful efforts in combating prejudice and discrimination while increasing tolerance and acceptance.

 Elke Kennedy was honored for the foundation of Sean’s Last Wish, www.seanslastwish.org an organization dedicated to raising awareness of hate crimes and combating hatred, bullying, violence and bigotry. Sean’s Wish was created in memory of Mrs. Kennedy’s son, who died from injuries suffered in a violent hate crime. Elke now travels the country to share her story and to educate the public about prejudice and how discrimination leads to hate and senseless crimes. She also teaches people the importance of hate crime projections and tirelessly advocates for greater resources to investigate these crimes.

As the mother of a son I was deeply saddened by the death of Sean Kennedy and I admire Elke Kennedy for her ability to rise above this tragedy and use her emotional pain to advocate for others. I only hope that I would have the strength to be as courageous and lead such an inspiring example after suffering such a tragedy. One always hopes that great tragedy might inspire great lessons and I think that’s the case in the death of Sean Kennedy.

I first wrote about Sean Kennedy back in 2007 you can read that here http://www.roxannewalker.com/journal/2007/6/1/sean-kennedy-hate-kills-in-greenville-south-carolina.html

 Here’s Elke’s response to my blog and her award.

Dear Roxanne,

Thank you so much for your beautifully written blog and for helping us to keep getting the word out.
I am humbled for being chosen for this award, but at the same time it shows that we can and are make a difference through education. People are listening!
I always wonder what impact Seans Last Wish has made on people that we have met, hugged, cried and laughed with in out Journey. Sometimes I am just planting a seed that prevents one person from death,beating, suicide and save another mother from having to bury her child?
3 and 1/2 years ago my life changed forever, I knew what I had to do, and am doing what I set out to do every day- some things are not changing fast enough for me, but we are chipping away at bullying, hatred and violence to achieve real and full equality and equal protection for all under the law! And Sean is with me always to keep me going.
Who would have thought then that I would be chosen as one of the 8 National winners of the 2010 Character Unite Awards?
But you know I could not have done the work without my husband Jim, my wonderful board, volunteers and all the organizations/people we have build coalition with.
Only together and standing united will we achieve our goals.

Thank you again Roxanne for your blog and for sharing it with me!

Love
Elke