2025 RFI ANNUAL DINNER
The 2025 RFI Annual Dinner was held Thursday, November 6th at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The evening was a celebration of religious freedom, and included the presentation of our annual awards: the Defender of Religious Freedom Award, given to “a person who defends religious freedom for everyone, everywhere from within his or her faith tradition," and the Religious Freedom Impact Award, given to an individual who has demonstrated “consistent, effective, and innovative leadership in advancing religious freedom.”
WHERE & WHEN
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
Thursday, November 6th | 6 PM Reception | 7:15 PM Dinner
*Cocktail Attire
AWARD RECIPIENTS, PRESENTERS, & SPEAKERS
THE HONORABLE KENNETH W. STARR
2025 Defender of Religious Freedom Award Recipient
Read more about his legacy of defending religious freedom here.
KELLY SHACKELFORD
Presenter of 2025 Defender of Religious Freedom Award
Read more about his work as a constitutional scholar and lawyer here.
PAUL D. CLEMENT
Keynote Speaker
Read more about his background and extraordinary career here.
ANDREA PICCIOTTI-BAYER
2025 Religious Freedom Impact Award Recipient
Read more about her work to defend religious freedom here.
MAUREEN FERGUSON
Presenter of 2025 Religious Freedom Impact Award
Read more about her experience in education and advocacy here.
HOST COMMITTEE
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
See past award recipients and event photos/videos here.
The 2025 RFI Annual Dinner was held Thursday, November 6th at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The evening was a celebration of religious freedom, and included the presentation of our annual awards: the Defender of Religious Freedom Award, given to “a person who defends religious freedom for everyone, everywhere from within his or her faith tradition," and the Religious Freedom Impact Award, given to an individual who has demonstrated “consistent, effective, and innovative leadership in advancing religious freedom.”
WHERE & WHEN
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
Thursday, November 6th | 6 PM Reception | 7:15 PM Dinner
*Cocktail Attire
AWARD RECIPIENTS, PRESENTERS, & SPEAKERS
THE HONORABLE KENNETH W. STARR
2025 Defender of Religious Freedom Award Recipient
Read more about his legacy of defending religious freedom here.
KELLY SHACKELFORD
Presenter of 2025 Defender of Religious Freedom Award
Read more about his work as a constitutional scholar and lawyer here.
PAUL D. CLEMENT
Keynote Speaker
Read more about his background and extraordinary career here.
ANDREA PICCIOTTI-BAYER
2025 Religious Freedom Impact Award Recipient
Read more about her work to defend religious freedom here.
MAUREEN FERGUSON
Presenter of 2025 Religious Freedom Impact Award
Read more about her experience in education and advocacy here.
HOST COMMITTEE
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
See past award recipients and event photos/videos here.
