“Immigrants: The Pride of America” Recognizes Americans by Choice

Forty-five Americans, who were born outside of the country and have earned their U.S. citizenship, are celebrated today as “Americans by Choice” in a full-page public service advertisement in the Fourth of July edition of the New York Times. 

See the New York Times ad and full list of 2012 honorees below.

Each year on Independence Day, Carnegie Corporation of New York salutes the legacy of its immigrant founder Andrew Carnegie, by celebrating an ideal that he held dear: citizenship.

The Americans celebrated today emigrated to the United States from six continents and range in occupation from a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist (Philippines), university president (Afghanistan) and dancer (Ivory Coast) to NASA astronaut (Australia), prize-winning chemist (Estonia) and best-selling author (Ireland).  And they also include an Assistant Treasury Secretary (Iran), U.S. Ambassador (Lebanon), Hall of Fame baseball player (Netherlands), high-tech entrepreneur (Norway) and actor (Canada). 

“Immigrants: The Pride of America” celebrates women and men who, after deciding to become U.S. citizens, applied for, and have earned their citizenship.  These naturalized Americans, and many millions like them, have demonstrated their commitment to the United States and their loyalty to the Constitution.  In return, they have been rewarded with all the rights and privileges—as well as responsibilities—that are part of U.S. citizenship. 

Through its public service ad, Carnegie Corporation also salutes the contributions of the millions of other naturalized Americans who have made, and continue to make, our nation strong and vibrant. The foundation is supporting efforts to provide a clear pathway to citizenship for lawful permanent residents, and is committed to helping immigrants become integrated into the civic fabric of our nation.  

Carnegie Corporation’s President, Vartan Gregorian, who was born in Tabriz, Iran, of Armenian parents and is himself a naturalized American, reminds us of that our country is an extraordinary and daring idea that is still being tested and must be nurtured: “Here, in America,” he said, “we are trying to form a nation that transcends its limits and where the people transcend their differences in order to share a common purpose and common ideals.  And here, in America, we must all understand that participating in our civic life, the rich and vibrant life of our nation is not just a right but also an obligation.  And perhaps most important of all, it means being a citizen.” 

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy.