Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks will be honored with a prestigious Beacon of Life Award on May 14, the weekend of the Civil Rights Game between the Phillies and Braves in Atlanta.
The honor, which also will go to actor Morgan Freeman and musician Carlos Santana, recognizes "an individual who embodies the soul of the civil rights movement through his life's pursuits," according to Major League Baseball.
Banks, 80, and his wife, Liz, operate the "Ernie Banks Live Above and Beyond Foundation," which promotes social welfare and looks to improve the lives of underprivileged children and senior citizens by enhancing neighborhoods and relieving discrimination among age groups and races.
In previous years, Buck O'Neil, Spike Lee, Frank Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron, Bill Cosby and Willie Mays have been presented with Beacon Awards.
