Idaho philanthropist Carr to receive distinguished public service honor

COEUR d’ALENE — Idaho native and philanthropist Greg Carr has been named the recipient of the Frank and Bethine Church Award for Distinguished Public Service.

“Greg Carr’s world-changing personal aspirations began in his native Idaho, they have transformed human experience worldwide, and they mark him as a richly deserving recipient of the Frank and Bethine Church Distinguished Public Service Award,” Arthur “Skip” Oppenheimer, president of the board of the Frank Church Institute at Boise State University, said in a news release. “Greg Carr’s imprint is everywhere, and his imprint is indelible.” 

Carr, a third-generation Idahoan, has a long history of supporting human rights in North Idaho. 

The Aryan Nations crumbled in North Idaho after losing a $6.3 million lawsuit leveled by Victoria Keenan and her son, Jason, who were assaulted and terrorized by Aryans who shot at them and forced their car into a ditch. 

After winning the lawsuit, the Keenans acquired the Aryan Nations compound in Hayden Lake and sold it to Carr. 

The compound was destroyed and Carr deeded the property to the North Idaho College Foundation. It was later sold, with the funds used to establish the Gregory C. Carr Human Rights Permanent Endowment at NIC. 

Tony Stewart, one of the founders of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and a longtime friend of Carr’s, extended his congratulations upon learning Carr would receive the award. 

“I am delighted and full of joy to hear the news,” Stewart said in an email Wednesday. 

After Stewart came to Idaho in 1970, he said, Frank and Bethine Church made many trips to North Idaho College to be on the NIC Popcorn Forum Lecture series and NIC TV PBS Public Forum. After Frank Church’s death, Bethine Church continued to visit North Idaho. 

“I can think of no institute or organization in Idaho that would be a greater honor for you,” Stewart said to Carr. “I am so proud of you, and you sure deserve this award.” 

Outside Idaho, Carr is perhaps best known for his work in Mozambique. 

Beginning in 2008, the Carr Foundation partnered with the government of Mozambique to protect and restore the ecosystem of Gorongosa National Park. In 2022, “60 Minutes” featured the transformation of Gorongosa National Park with Carr’s leadership. 

Carr’s other human rights achievements include major support of the Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d’Alene and the Wassmuth Center in Boise. He is a cofounder of the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls, as well as the Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University. 

“The record of achievement of the Frank and Bethine Church Distinguished Leadership in Public Service honorees is exceptional, and this recognition of Greg Carr’s life’s work is a fitting new chapter in that record,” Monica Church, executive director of the Frank Church Institute, said in a news release. “His career has influenced people across the world, has connected conservation programming to meaningful career opportunities for people in the developing world and is a globally important humanitarian vision in this 21st Century.”   

Carr will deliver remarks, titled “The Longest Way ‘Round is the Shortest Way Home,” during the July 23 gala in Boise.