Ann Curry, co-anchor of NBC News’ Today, America ’s number one morning news program, received the Tahirih Justice Center ’s Voice of Courage award at its 15th Anniversary Gala.

The event took place on April 25 with the theme, “Saving Lives, Celebrating Courage.” Venue was the Four Seasons Hotel in the nation’s capital.

Tahirih noted that “as a distinguished global humanitarian reporter, Ann has frequently traveled to remote areas of the world for under-reported stories, raising the profile of the horrific abuses suffered by women throughout the world.”

“It is only with the kind of public awareness that Ann is achieving that lasting change throughout the world will be possible,” it added. Ann accepted her award via recorded remarks.

            In 1995, the incredibly brave Fauziya Kassindja, then age 17, narrowly escaped female genital mutilation and forced marriage to a man twice her age with multiple wives in Togo. Her ensuing battle for asylum in the U.S. established national legal precedent. It led Fauziya and Tahirih founder Layli Miller-Muro to publish a book together, “Do They Hear You When You Cry? “Inspired by Fauziya’s courage, Layli used her portion of the proceeds of the book to found the Tahirih Justice Center (www.tahirih.org).