America the Beautiful

Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., became the chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1984 at the age of 33, making him the youngest major division director in the hospital's history. He has written and published nine books, four of which were co-authored with Candy,  his wife of 40 years. Dr. Carson was the recipient of the 2006 Spingarn Medal. In June 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. U.S. News Media Group and Harvard's Center for Public Leadership recognized Dr. Carson as one of America's Best Leaders in 2008. In 2014, the Gallup Organization, in their annual survey, named Dr. Carson as one of the 10 Most Admired Men in the World.Dr. Carson and his wife are co-founders of the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments. In addition, Dr. Carson is now the Honorary National Chairman of the My Faith Votes campaign and continues to work tirelessly for the cause of the American people.Candy Carson is the co-founder (with her husband Ben) of the Carson Scholars Fund, a charity that recognizes and rewards high academic achievement and demonstrated humanitarian qualities. This organization was created in response to the US crisis in education. With the over 4300 scholars in 42 states, peers of the scholarship winners are now striving for higher academic results as well. Candy also serves on the board of the Shriver Concert Series of Johns Hopkins University. She has worked in editing, trust administration, insurance, and real estate, having earned her Masters in Business from Johns Hopkins. While her 3 sons were in their early teen years, she along with them formed the Carson 4, a string quartet which has performed at churches, and community and charitable events, nationally and internationally. In her spare time, Candy still enjoys reading books and reading music on violin and piano. She writes for THINK BIG, the newsletter for the Carson Scholars Fund, and conducts the University of Maryland Medical Center Chamber Players.