3 Women to Receive Freedom Awards

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Brains, beauty and heart are the qualities most men look for in a woman of substance. All of the women who compose this year's slate of National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award winners possess those qualities in inspirational fashions.

One is a civil rights pioneer. One is a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. One is an actress whose feelings for philanthropy and humanitarianism run as deep as she is beautiful.

Together their works combine to create the theme for this year's 19th Annual National Civil Rights Museum's coveted Freedom Award ceremony in October.

"It is 'Freedom's Light in a Sister's Hands.' This is the first year we have an all-female cast. Hey, ladies it's an all female cast," said Beverly Robinson, NCRM President.

The trio of recipients as announced by the Museum's board and award sponsors on Tuesday is definitely more in stature than just "Desperate Housewives."

They are women who've left imprints on the world by their words and deeds despite their individually diverse careers.

In the case of 80-year old Dr. Dorothy Cotton her work as the Education Director for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the 1960's made her a trusted confidante and the highest ranking woman in the inner the late Dr. Martin Luther King's inner circle. Cotton was among those who accompanied King when he received his Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and four years later traveled with him to his fatal appointment with death at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.

It's being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize that also binds King's spirit with Kenyan freedom fighter, environmentalist and human rights advocate Dr. Wangari Maathi. As the International Freedom Award honoree she is regarded worldwide as one of the most powerful and influential women in the world.

"Her work around poverty reduction, especially in regards to women and children in Kenya. as well as her work around environmental conservation and her tree-planting in Kenya. We feel like she's a worth individual," said Gretchen McLennon from Hyde Family Foundations,.

The FedEx Legacy Freedom Award honoree actress, Eva Longoria Parker, is living proof that beauty can run for deeper than skin-deep. Though blessed with glamour and sex appeal, Longoria-Parker has parlayed her success into becoming an outspoken crusader for various causes including one inspired by her family.

"Her older sister Lisa who is intellectually disabled was the inspiration for Eva's Heroes and the work her mother did for 25 years as a teacher's assistant and special education teacher," said Mary McDaniel, FedEx Express Air Operations VP.