Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation

Beginning in 1996, the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation established a three-tiered Frontiers of Discovery-Past, Present and Future program. The Frank Annunzio Awards were launched in 1998 as part of the Past program. The awards are named for the late Honorable Frank Annunzio, former United States Representative from the 11th Congressional District of Chicago, Illinois, and the founder of the Foundation.

From 1998-2001, the Past program bestowed the prestigious Frank Annunzio Awards to honor the lifetime achievements of outstanding Americans in such fields as Arts, Humanities, Humanitarian, Science and Technology who have made a significant and beneficial impact on society.

In 2002 the Foundation restructured its programs to initiate its new Frontiers of Discovery-Work in Progress and Discover the Future programs. The 2002 Work in Progress program bestowed four Frank Annunzio Awards to honor "cutting edge" innovations. Two $50,000 awards were presented in the Arts/Humanities/Humanitarian field, and two $50,000 awards in the Science/Technology field. The awards recognized individual Americans who were improving the world through ingenuity and innovation, and provided incentive for continuing research and/or a specific project.

In 2003 and 2004 the Foundation presented one $50,000 award in the Science/Technology field.

In 2005 two $25,000 Annunzio Awards presented to honor "cutting edge" innovations, and provide incentive for continuing research and/or a specific project. One $25,000 Frank Annunzio Award was presented in the Science/Technology field, and one new25,000 award was presented in the Alternative Energy Sources (AES)field.

The purpose of the new AES award is to strengthen America 's energy security; environmental quality; enhance energy efficiency and productivity; and bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace for both consumers and industry. New technologies may harness the Earth's power and resources through the use of renewables such as bio energy, geothermal, hydrogen, solar and wind; or make more proficient use of electric power, fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), fusion, hydropower and nuclear as it relates to developing "cutting edge" energy efficient technologies for buildings, homes, transportation, power systems and/or industry.

The Foundation has discontinued the Discoveries at Work - Christopher Columbus Foundation Award and the Discoveries of the Past programs. For more information on these programs, please visit the Other Programs and Activities area.

Awards Ceremony

From 1998-2006, the Christopher Columbus Foundation, in alliance with the National Museum of Education, formerly the Partnership for America’s Future, Inc., sponsored the National Gallery and bestowed a “Young Inventors Award” on the inductees in the National Gallery. Each inductee received a sextant, compass and $5,000 United States Savings Bond.

Selection Committee

Each year the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have the assistance of distinguished individuals serving on the Frank Annunzio Awards Evaluation Committee. Each year's committee is listed on the page linked to that specific year.