What should I expect at the Wilberforce Award Dinner?

First time? No problem.

The Wilberforce Award Dinner is the culmination of Saturday. We recommend dressing business casual--we'll be enjoying a fancy dinner in a banquet room!

The event honors a fellow believer whose work inspires us to bring a Christian worldview to the challenges of our time and place. It includes a multi-course dinner and dessert. The program will include a speech by the honoree, and several in-person and video tributes, as well as time to enjoy the food and conversation with others at your table.

The evening will begin promptly at 7pm on Saturday and end at 9pm. Doors won't open till a few minutes before 7, but you can arrive as early as 6:30pm to check in and learn your table location. We strongly recommend arriving at 10-15 minutes early so as to have time to check in and confirm your table and other details. Guests who have not checked in will not be allowed into the ballroom.

What table am I at?

A few guests (for example, guests of the award winner) will be at specific, numbered tables at the front of the room. All other tables are open seating. We will confirm with you when you check in before the dinner where you are sitting, as well as food allergies we have on file.

I'm worried about being able to see or hear.

If you have vision or hearing issues, please notify an usher when you walk in and we will help you. You can also email us at events@colsoncenter.org ahead of time.

About the Wilberforce Award

Chuck Colson established the William Wilberforce Award in 1988 to annually recognize a Christian leader who exemplifies the principles and commitment of William Wilberforce, the great English statesman who waged a forty-year campaign to end the slave trade in Britain and to reform a broken society. We wish to honor Christian leaders who, by their example, encourage all Christians to make a difference in the face of tough societal problems and injustices. That is the purpose of the Wilberforce Award. This year, we are pleased to award Hobby Lobby Founders David and Barbara Green with the 2024 William Wilberforce Award