IEE’s Fórum da Liberdade Named Finalist For Prestigious Templeton Freedom Award

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2017 --

Porto Alegre, Brazil-based Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies (IEE) was named one of six finalists for this year's prestigious $100,000 Templeton Freedom Award for its Fórum da Liberdade event, which brings together business leaders, students, academics, politicians, and former heads of state from Latin America and beyond to discuss policy and principles in what has been described as the “the Super Bowl of liberalism.”

“Fórum da Liberdade is so much more than an event: it is Brazil’s chance to flourish and empower liberty culture from within, creating a thriving atmosphere that proposes alternatives to develop a society with more prosperity and freedom,” said Júlio César Bratz Lamb, president of IEE.

First held in 1988 – the same year that Brazil adopted a new constitution – Fórum da Liberdade’s 30th edition occurred this year in April, spanning six days of events, attracting 6,372 participants, disseminating 5,240 books, amassing tens of thousands of online views, and garnering hundreds of media mentions. It has become the largest event in Latin America for the promotion of the ideas of a free society and often is the first exposure many attendees receive to the ideas of classical liberalism. Fórum da Liberdade’s success has led to a considerable change in political discourse as many high-profile Brazilian politicians have responded to the changing public opinion. Principles underlying a free and open society have thrust themselves into the mainstream in Latin America as a direct result of Fórum da Liberdade.

"Many factors have contributed to Brazil's encouraging turn toward the rule of law and limited government,” said Atlas Network CEO Brad Lips. “One is certainly the IEE's remarkable Fórum da Liberdade, which has kept classical liberal ideas in prominent public discussions for three decades."

What: IEE’s Fórum da Liberdade named one of six finalists for Atlas Network's prestigious $100,000 Templeton Freedom Award

When: Nov. 8, 2017, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner closing ceremony – Capitale, 130 Bowery, New York, NY 10013 (Bowery and Grand St.)

Press Contact: [email protected] or 202-449-8441

Awarded since 2004, the Templeton Freedom Award is named for the late investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton. The award annually honors his legacy by identifying and recognizing the most exceptional and innovative contributions to the understanding of free enterprise, and the public policies that encourage prosperity, innovation, and human fulfillment via free competition. The award is generously supported by Templeton Religion Trust and will be presented during Atlas Network's Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner gala dinner ceremony Nov. 8, 2017 in New York City. The winning organization will receive a $100,000 prize and the runners-up will each receive $25,000.

The 2017 Templeton Freedom Award finalists are:

• Beacon Center of Tennessee (Nashville, Tenn., United States) – “Tackle the Hall Tax” project
• Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) (Norcross, Ga., United States) – “Prisoner Reentry Initiative”
• IMANI Center for Policy and Education (Accra, Ghana) – “IMANIFesto” initiative
• Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies (IEE) (Porto Alegre, Brazil) – Fórum da Liberdade
• Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) (Mexico City, Mexico) – “Anticorruption Reform Initiative for Mexico, 3for3”
• Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy (MLI) (Ottawa, Canada) – "Aboriginal Canada and the Natural Resource Economy” project

About IEE

Based in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Instituto de Estudos Empresariais also known as IEE, develops business leaders who are committed to a model of social and political organization for Brazil based on the democratic ideal of individual freedoms under the rule of law.

About Atlas Network

Washington-based Atlas Network is a nonprofit organization that strengthens the worldwide freedom movement by connecting more than 470 independent partners in over 90 countries that share the vision of a free, prosperous, and peaceful world where limited governments defend the rule of law, private property, and free markets.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2473a781-2a56-4491-b9d7-3e10771a6320

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8568e988-89de-42a6-80bc-bcf5c3f40bce

Daniel Anthony
Atlas Network
2024498441
[email protected]