2011 Award Winner: Senator Rick Santorum

Former Senator of Pennsylvania

Senator Santorum is a former Senator of Pennsylvania (1995-2007), former Congressman from Pennsylvania’s 18th District (1991-1995), and husband and father of seven children.

Rick graduated from Carmel High School in Mundelein, Il in 1976 and currently has children attending The Heights (for boys) and Oakcrest (for girls), "cousin" schools to Northridge Prep and The Willows Academy. He is a proponent of school choice options.

Senator Santorum believes that the core of the American experience is the family, and with-out strong families, we cannot have a strong and vibrant nation. During his time in office, Rick fought to preserve the traditional family, and worked to protect the most vulnerable in our society, the unborn. He was the author of the "Born Alive Infant Protection Act" and "Unborn Victims of Violence Act".

Crossing party lines to fight with Senator Kennedy, Senator Santorum promoted the passage of the "Individuals with Disability Education Act" (IDEA), and joined Senator Dodd in authoring the "Combating Autism Act". Rick also worked in a bipartisan manner to create Kids Accounts, so children could better afford a college education, as well as authoring the Schools SAFE Act which will help make sure children will be able to learn in a nurturing environment.

Since leaving office, Rick has helped raise funds to support organizations like Susan B. Anthony List, Americans United for Life, and the National Organization for Marriage. He is a frequent guest on Fox News and is currently considering running for President in 2012. He will be attending the 2012 Presidential Candidate Forum in Iowa on March 7, 2011.

For more information on Senator Santorum, visit www.ricksantorum.com