North Dakota Family Alliance Hosts First Annual "Faith, Family & Freedom" Event

North Dakota's First Lady Mikey Hoeven Receives Woman of the Year Award and...Scott Hennen Announced Man of the Year

(FARGO, ND) -- The North Dakota Family Alliance (NDFA) hosted its first annual "Faith, Family & Freedom" event in Fargo on Tuesday, February 10, with nationally-known "values" speaker and world-renowned chalk artist Bob Upgren of North Dakota.  Upgren, also the founder of a sports camp in the state that attracts professional athletes, is a key-note speaker at many business, sports and faith-based events spanning many states.

"This event jump-started our 2009 efforts to protect North Dakota's family values and defend its religious freedoms by educating and empowering citizens," said Tom Freier, executive director of the NDFA.  "Scott Hennen, local radio owner and nationally-recognized on-air talent, emceed the event and shared his own passion for promoting individual responsibility to maintain and grow North Dakota by continuing the beliefs that make this state great now and for future generations."

Three first-annual NDFA awards to North Dakotans were presented by NDFA Board of Directors President Steve Cates of Bismarck.  The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Enoch Thorsgard of Northwood for his unwavering commitment to the NDFA.  First Lady Mikey Hoeven accepted the Woman of the Year Award for her commitment to the family, and her efforts to champion local and national programs that promote family values.  Scott Hennen was announced as the Man of the Year for his tireless support of life and marriage, and for his use of the media to unashamedly support and promote traditional values.

Several state-wide guests testified to the importance of the NDFA, offering their own stories of impact.  First Lady Hoeven, previous governor Ed Schafer and his wife Nancy, Representative Al Carlson and his wife Sharon, Pastor Dave Motta of Calvary United Methodist in Fargo, and Jon Lee, owner of Bread Poets Baking Co. in Bismarck, were among those who provided comments.  Nationally, Focus on the Family's Dr. Bill Maier shared greetings and endorsements.  The Sorensen family of Horace, ND provided music.

The event was sandwiched in between the very busy legislative session currently on in Bismarck where Freier is participating in several bills by giving testimony and seeking voting support for issues of interest to the NDFA.  These include bills related to marriage, abortion, and sexual behaviors.   State votes on these occur this session.

North Dakota is Focus on the Family's (Dr. James Dobson) 36^th state to have a family public policy organization in place through the NDFA.  Believing that the family is the foundation of society and that family values in North Dakota need protecting, the NDFA initiates and promotes key issues through legislation and public causes.

The "Faith, Family & Freedom" event was held at the Fargo Ramada Plaza Suites, and was attended by an enthusiastic 275 in spite of winter storm weather in the region.

The North Dakota Family Alliance is online at www.ndfa.org.

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Interview Talking Points

• Faith, Family & Freedom event highlights and awards
• The NDFA "agenda" for 2009
• Bills of interest to the NDFA being presented and voted on this current legislative session in Bismarck; bills that the NDFA needs public support and response from
• The NDFA's track record of involvement with family issues concerns in the last session
• Successes the NDFA has experienced to help uphold marriage in North Dakota as being between one man and one woman

The North Dakota Family Alliance is a Christian-based statewide non-partisan organization that exists to strengthen families, protect family values and defend religious freedoms by educating and empowering citizens. NDFA is online at www.ndfa.org, and is located in Fargo, ND at 3220 18^th Street South, Suite #8.

Copyright © 2008 North Dakota Family Alliance