Golden
Branch Awards The Annual Golden Branch
Awards are the most prestigious awards given out in the Raw Foods Movement & are
awarded annually by the International Raw & Living Foods Association to those who have
made significant contributions to the Movement. There are no set number of awards given in
any one year...the spotlight is on a different aspect of the Raw Foods Movement each year. The award itself is unique each year, but
still consists of two common items: The first is a hand-beaded gold amulet bag, & the
second component is a branch
. sometimes a living one & at other
times a golden wire one or even a combination of both. Recipients can wear the amulet or
display it on the branch as a token of on-going thanks from all of us in the Movement for
what they do for us. The Award symbolizes LIFE, GROWTH, HEALTH &
JOYFULNESS that transmutes everything into the Gold of Vibrant Well-being
Those who
receive this Award are helping others to move into greater Aliveness. There are a great many who are deserving of this award.
We are thankful to them also & look forward to bestowing our gratitude to them at
Festivals to come! The Award was first given out
at the 2000 Festival to Karyn Calabrese & Oprah Winfrey in recognition for what
they had done for visibility for the
Movement by Karyns appearance on the Oprah Show that year. The Award, in 2001 was
actually three awards: the first was given out to Ann Wigmore, posthumously, as the
Mother of the Modern Raw Foods Movement & presented to the Ann Wigmore Institute in
Puerto Rico. The Father of the modern Movement, Viktoras Kulvinskas was also
recognized for his vast contributions to the creation of our Movement.. The Raw Family was
symbolized by Victoria Boutenko & family, Igor, Sergie & Valya. In 2002, TWO Golden Branch
Awards were given out. The first was awarded in recognition of outstanding Mentorship of
the International Raw Foods Movement itself & was awarded to Roxanne Klein,
Founder of Roxannes Restaurant. The Second Award was in recognition & gratitude
for all this very special person has done as the Scientific Mentor of the Raw Foods
Movement: Dr. Gabriel Cousens. 2003 recognized two of the
outstanding pillars of the Movement: Dr. Douglas Graham for his mentorship of the links
between fitness & the raw foods diet & Dr.Fred Bisci for his long willingness to
be a gentle teacher & example. 2003 saw two new types of annual awards being
instituted: the Golden Rose Award (in memory of Raw Movement Mentor, Csilla
Jacobson), will be given out to an outstanding example of Raw Foods Entreprenuerism. The
first years winner went, of course, to John Kohler, one of the very first raw food
internet entrepreneurs. A second new award, Golden Volunteer Angel: went to
long time Intl Association Festival Volunteer Coordinator Ardie Earhart upon her
retirement from that position to become a even more active raw foods teacher. Who will win the Golden
Branch Award(s) for 2004 ? What Aspect of the Raw
Foods Movement will be honored this year? Who will win this years
Golden Rose for Raw Movement Entrepreneurism? Who will be the 2004
Golden Volunteer Angel? Come to the Golden Branch
Award Ceremony Saturday, August 21 at 7
to 8 pm Ceremony will be held at
the 2004 Festival Site Who would you like to see receive these awards in 2005? Contact the Association with your nomination before January 1, 2005! |