On October 24, the Diocese of California received the Global Citizens Award from the East Bay Chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America. The award was given for the diocese's work advancing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Rev. Este Cantor from Our Saviour, Mill Valley, accepted the award on behalf of the diocese and the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus. This is the second year the East Bay Chapter has given out the awards to individuals and organziations whose exemplary work has international impact and is helping to fulfill the MDGs. The theme of the evening was "Water for Life," and many of the awards centered around international water-based projects. This year seven awards were given in all; recipents included a religious institution (the Diocese of California), a city (Berkeley), advocacy institutions (the Pacific Institute and the Oakland Institute), students (the Shuar Project), a scientist (Ashok Gadgil), and a civic group acting in the local community (St. Mary's Center). For more information and to read Cantor's acceptance speech, please view her blog "Shekinah" at estecantor.blogspot.com.