Centers for Decency Names Prison Fellowship & Breakpoint Founder Chuck Colson Its Man of the Year

LANSDOWNE, Va., Dec. 21, 2007—The Centers for Decency has named Chuck Colson its Man of the Year for 2007. Colson is the founder of PFM, a Christian non-profit organization comprised of Prison Fellowship, the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families, and BreakPoint, which equips Christians to live out their faith in today's culture.  The organization also named Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, director and senior fellow of Concerned Women for America's (CWA) Beverly LaHaye Institute, its Woman of the Year.

The award recognizes Colson's commitment to prisoner rehabilitation and promoting a Christian worldview.

"I am pleased that the Centers for Decency honored two of my dear friends-Chuck Colson and Janice Crouse-as their Man and Woman of the Year," said CWA Founder and Chairman Beverly LaHaye.  "Both are deserving of this high honor."

Colson, who served prison time for a Watergate-related offense, has worked to promote prisoner rehabilitation and reform of the United States prison system.  Colson's personal prison experience and his visits to more than 800 prisons throughout the world prompted concerns about the efficacy of the American criminal justice system and have made him one of the nation's most influential voices for criminal justice reform.  Colson's recommendations have brought together legislators from both political parties and divergent philosophical viewpoints.

In 1991 Colson launched a daily radio feature called BreakPoint, a unique and well-received attempt to provide a distinctly Christian worldview on current issues and conflicts. Today BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print, with the syndicated radio program aired daily on some 1,000 outlets nationwide.

"This award recognizes Chuck for all he has done to encourage and give hope to so many people," said Karen Kristopher, executive director for the Centers for Decency. "In the midst of all his accomplishments, Chuck is an amazing man of faith and stands for unwavering family values. I'm pleased to honor such a worthy recipient."

Centers for Decency has a 13-year history of standing with families, communities, volunteers and members to bring family values into all areas of public policy. 

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