Edwin Feulner, the president of The Heritage Foundation, has been chosen as this year’s recipient of the John Von Kannon Service to the Cause Award for his indispensable contributions to the advancement of conservative public policies and principles.

The Von Kannon Award is named after legendary conservative fundraiser John Von Kannon, founding publisher of The American Spectator and vice president and senior counselor at The Heritage Foundation.

“Ed is principled, practical, persistent in a wonderful way and continuously optimistic,” said Heather Higgins, the president of Independent Women’s Voice and last year’s recipient.

“That he is a man that keeps his eye on these things helps explain why he is such a force and has been a leader for so many years, while so many who have been thought to be ‘indispensable’ politicians have come, gone, and been long forgotten.”

Higgins presented Feulner the award at The American Spectator’s Robert L. Bartley Gala on Sept. 26 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.

“On this special night of celebrating the 50th anniversary of The American Spectator, I am truly honored to receive The John Von Kannon Service to the Cause Award,” said Feulner in his acceptance speech. “If only John ‘the Baron’ Von Kannon were here with us tonight, can you imagine the jokes he would tell?”

“Ed’s contagious optimism, passion for ideas and unmatchable dedication to building the conservative movement make him the ideal recipient of this award,” said John Fogarty, senior vice president of The Heritage Foundation.

“John would have been proud, humbled, and he would have had a great, and funny, story to tell,” Fogarty said.