New York, USA: Eboo Patel, an American Ismaili with roots in Gujarat, India, has been a prominent advocate for interfaith collaboration through his organization, Interfaith America, formerly known as Interfaith Youth Core.

On December 10, 2024, Patel, the founder and president of Interfaith America, was honored with the prestigious Newsweek-Stubblefield Institute Civility Award at Newsweek’s headquarters in New York City. He was recognized under the State and Community Leaders category, which highlights individuals who embody civil discourse and foster bipartisan cooperation.

Interfaith America, established in 2002, aims to bridge divides among people of various faiths through service and dialogue. Under Patel's leadership, the organization has collaborated with colleges and universities to advance interfaith cooperation, notably through initiatives like the Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, a program launched in partnership with the White House in 2011. The organization also engages with civic groups and local leaders to develop initiatives promoting unity across religious and cultural boundaries.

Beyond his work with Interfaith America, Patel has participated in interfaith initiatives in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. He also served on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, further cementing his commitment to fostering interfaith harmony.

Additional recipients of the 2024 Civility Awards include Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Representative Brendan Boyle in the Federal Elected Officials category, as well as Governor Spencer Cox in the State and Community Leaders category.

Patel completed his undergraduate studies in Sociology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and later earned a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.