I was eight years old when my father was murdered. It is almost impossible to describe the pain of losing a parent to a senseless murder ... But even as a child, one thing was clear to me: I didn't want the killer, in turn, to be killed. I remember lying in bed and praying, Please, God. Please don't take his life, too. I saw nothing that could be accomplished in the loss of one life being answered with the loss of another.
Taylor Swift's dedication to advocacy at such a young age continues to inspire me, and I'm delighted to honor her as one of our 2012 Ripple of Hope Award recipients. [...] and especially the compassion she's shown as a proud defender against bullying and LGBTI discrimination. [...] As a young person, Taylor has already accomplished so much, and I look forward to watching all that she will do to help build a brighter, more peaceful world for us all.
