Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Medal

Camden County’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Medal is presented to county residents who have selflessly contributed their time and effort to better their community in conjunction with the goals of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since the Freedom Medal was introduced in 2001, this prestigious award has been given to over a thousand Camden County’s most deserving residents.

Recent Winners and Ceremonies

All Freedom Medal Nominees

Nominations

Nominations are now closed.

The Camden County Board of Commissioners is accepting nominations for the Camden County Freedom Medal. The medal will be awarded to citizens of Camden County for contributing to the betterment of their community through their unselfish dedication of time and talent, beyond their normal professional activities.

In the continuation of Martin Luther King Jr’s dream to create a more just and loving community, the Camden County Freedom Medal is presented each year to commemorate his birthday. Please take the time to nominate a friend, neighbor, or just someone you know who embodies the dream and action of Martin Luther King Jr.

A Special Review Committee made up of past recipients will determine this year’s award recipients who will be honored at a reception ceremony. All applications and supporting documents must be received by the Review Committee no later than December 6, 2021. All successful nominees will be posted on CamdenCounty.com and notified in December. For additional information please call Scott Petrozza at (856) 216-8217.

Nominee:

• Must be a resident of Camden County
• Must have made a specific contribution directed to his/her community that, over time, has made a significant, tangible improvement benefiting the people of the community
• Accomplishments must be based on volunteer work
• Nominee contact information and photo must be provided at time of submittal

Submissions must also express how the candidate meets ONE the following criteria:

• COURAGE: MLK was a symbol of courage, moral and physical, demonstrated by his willingness to face anger, hatred and threats as he challenged deeply rooted social and economic values to better the lives of all throughout the civil rights movement.
• PEACE: The hallmark of his work was none-violence, seeking to defeat injustice, not people.
• COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ENRICHMENT: MLK’s work exemplifies the ideals that he fought and died for, always with the goal of enriching others.

As Nominator:

• You must submit a short essay; specifically supporting the Nominee’s accomplishments, including all relevant details, of the period of time spent on the community’s service and the measurable impact on the community. No more than 300 words.
• Must avoid any reference to the nominee’s professional career.
• Past medal recipients are not eligible.