Born in Charleston, West Virginia in 1922, Reverend Leon H. Sullivan was educated at Garnet High School, West Virginia State College, Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University.  He received honorary degrees from over 50 colleges and universities and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Eleanor Roosevelt Award and the Notre Dame Award. Reverend Sullivan authored several books, including Build Brother Build, Alternatives to Despair and Moving Mountains.

After serving at churches in West Virginia, New York and New Jersey, Reverend Sullivan became pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in Philadelphia where he served from 1950 to 1988.  He developed many successful programs within the church and the community of Philadelphia, and established minority-owned businesses and non-profit ventures for inner-city residents. In 1970, Reverend Sullivan was elected to the Board of Directors of the General Motors Corporation, where he served for over 20 years. 

In 1977, Reverend Sullivan developed the Sullivan Principles, a code of conduct for human rights and equal opportunity for companies operating in South Africa.  The Sullivan Principles are acknowledged to have been one of the most effective efforts to end discrimination against blacks in the workplace in South Africa, and to have contributed to the dismantling of apartheid. To further expand human rights and economic development to all communities, Reverend Sullivan created the Global Sullivan Principles of Social Responsibility in 1997.

Reverend Sullivan's work was built on the principle of "self-help," which provides people with the tools to help themselves overcome barriers of poverty and oppression.  This approach led to the formation of the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America (OICA),   and Opportunities Industrialization Centers International (OICI), organizations that have trained millions of people, from all races, for jobs in the United States and around the world.  In addition, Reverend Sullivan established more than 20 programs under the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH), including the Global Sullivan Principles initiative. Other IFESH programs include the African-African American Summit (now renamed the Leon H. Sullivan Summit), the Peoples Investment Fund for Africa, the Self-Help Investment Program, Teachers for Africa and Schools for Africa. IFESH has placed teachers in Africa, trained African bankers, built schools, developed small businesses, disseminated books and school supplies, created literacy programs, distributed medicines to prevent river-blindness and helped to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Reverend Sullivan’s work continues today with the dedicated efforts of his family, staff and supporters around the world. His lasting legacy, the Global Sullivan Principles, has been endorsed by hundreds of businesses and organizations, with more expressing interest every day.