"One billion hungry in the world - what is your role?" That question is the theme for the year of Nashville's Society of Universal Dialogue (SUD). Ted Cassidy's answer to that question is clear and unambiguous: "What I know how to do and what I do well - plant a garden." That's exactly what Ted has done.

Many of you know that Ted Cassidy is a professional farmer and landscaper. Over the last year and a half, he has directed those skills to responding to hunger relief following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010.

Along with other members of St. Paul's and St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama, Ted went to Haiti in July 2010, and planted an orchard of fruit trees and shade trees on the grounds of a children's nutrition clinic called Lespois Timoun, "Hope for the Children."

In May 2011, Ted and his wife Melissa went to Haiti a second time, this time to prepare for the planting of a large vegetable garden. In July 2011, Ted returned to Haiti a third time to complete the planting of the garden.

Ted has traveled to Haiti three times so far. But he did much more than just go. His leadership and skills in the planning and execution of the orchard, garden, and the irrigation system to support both were indispensable to the overwhelming success of the project.

When the SUD sought nominees for recipients of its humanitarian awards, this year for "feeding the hungry," Ted was an obvious candidate. That he was selected to receive the individual humanitarian award was equally a "no-brainer."

The award was presented at SUD's 5th annual Dialogue Dinner on November 2, 2011 at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville.

Congratulations, Ted. We are very proud of you!