Last Thursday, RFI held its 2025 Annual Dinner at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. It was a celebration of religious freedom, and included the presentation of our annual Defender of Religious Freedom Award, given to the Honorable Kenneth W. Starr, posthumously, whose beloved wife, Alice Starr, received the award on his behalf (pictured directly below). We were also delighted to honor Andrea Picciotti-Bayer with our Religious Freedom Impact Award.  

The Honorable Paul D. Clement delivered the keynote address, sharing his experiences working with Ken Starr and offering keen insights into the nature of ongoing threats to America’s First Freedom in law and culture, despite numerous, important successes in the Supreme Court in recent years. 

Attendees also heard from others who knew Ken Starr personally and professionally, and who reflected powerfully on the many ways Ken touched their lives. Among them were Mark Lanier, founder of The Lanier Law Firm and widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier civil-trial lawyers; Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty Institute (who also served as our Defender of Religious Freedom Award presenter); and Jim Gash, President of Pepperdine University (each pictured below).

To conclude the evening, Ambassador Robert Řehák, who serves as Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (Article 18 Alliance), and Special Envoy for Holocaust, Interfaith Dialogue and Freedom of Religion for the Czech Republic, led us in the benediction. RFI’s Miles Windsor has served as a strategic advisor to Ambassador Řehák in the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs since October 2024.

The evening’s program also featured two short videos from the main stage, one showing Ken Starr speaking about the fundamental underpinnings and significance of religious liberty across his extraordinary career and the other presenting snapshots of RFI’s premier student programs.

More than a dozen former student aides of Ken Starr attended our Annual Dinner, whom he affectionately referred to as his GPs (or “gentle persons”). He valued their energy, skill, and intellect, and spoke often of their indispensable contributions to critical projects he was leading. This extraordinary cadre of individuals received numerous mentions from the podium throughout the evening.

Fittingly, and thanks to the generosity of one of our donors, each guest received a copy of the last book Ken Starr wrote titled, Religious Liberty in Crisis (2021), which Paul Clement urged everyone to read during his remarks.

The evening was bookended by Ken Starr’s favorite hymn and his favorite patriotic song, “How Great Thou Art” and “God Bless America,” respectively, so beautifully rendered by professional pianist, Larrie Allen.

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RFI is profoundly grateful to our many sponsors, whose generous contributions made this event possible. 

Legacy Sponsors:

• Michael and Liz Ortner
• Sealy and Susan Yates
• Douglas and Sheryl Bech
• Mark and Becky Lanier
• Robert and Holly Vagley 
• Talmage and Claire Boston 
• John and Amy Shackelford 
• Tom and Betsy Farr 
• Michael Maibach
• Pepperdine University
• Alliance Defending Freedom
• EWTN Global Catholic Network
• Knights of Columbus
• CRC Advisors 
• The Lanier Law Firm
• Global Peace Foundation
• Shackelford, McKinley & Norton, LLP

Liberty Sponsors: 

• Tyler and Rebecca Mellos; Dominic and Lawren Edwards 
• John and Hannah Smith

Advocate Sponsors: 

• Alice Starr
• Larry Blanford 
• Stanley and Doris Harrison 
• Sean and Pat Kearns
• The Bruderhof
• Morgan Stanley 
• West Papua Human Rights Center

Patron Sponsors:

• Jean and Daniel Beatty
• Anthony Lauinger
• R. Scott Turicchi

Friend Sponsors: 

• Kent and Jan Hill
• Gerard and Germana Mitchell 
• New Alliance of Virtue 
• American Council on Women, Peace, and Security

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RFI also wishes to express our sincere gratitude to our host committee for their support. 

• Co-Chairs: President Jim and Mrs. Joline Gash | The Honorable Ben and Mrs. Candice Carson
• The Honorable Mark and Mrs. Kym Martin
• The Honorable Sam Brownback
• Mr. and Mrs. Alan Sears
• Dr. Os and Mrs. Jenny Guinness
• Mr. and Mrs. Steffen and Christine Johnson
• Dr. Byron and Mrs. Jackie Johnson
• The Honorable Mary Ann Glendon
• The Honorable Frank and Carolyn Wolf
• Dean and Mrs. Paul Caron
• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vagley
• Dr. Robert P. George
• Mr. and Mrs. Mark Lanier
• Mrs. Kristen Waggoner
• Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Betsy Farr
• Mr. Michael and Mrs. Jacqueline Warsaw