WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) is proud to announce actor and Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges is the recipient of the 2025 International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award.
The award is given to an individual, organization or group that has significantly advanced the public persona of professional social work. The prize is made possible through an endowment fund established by a contribution in 1996 from the late Rhoda G. Sarnat, LCSW, and her late spouse, Bernard Sarnat, MD.
NASWF is bestowing this recognition on Ludacris because of his public recognition of the social work profession and his realistic representation of a social worker in popular media.
Ludacris used his platform and his voice to advocate for social workers. In March 2024, he shared a moving video message during Social Work Month that paid tribute to the commitment and kindness of social workers.
His heartfelt and honest message resounded across social networking platforms, garnering more than 2 million views across several NASW social media platforms, making it one of the association’s most viral pieces of social media content to date. It also raised a larger public awareness and appreciation of the work social workers do to improve the lives of others.
Ludacris also significantly contributed to shaping public perceptions of social work through his role as an emergency response social worker in the Netflix 2023 holiday film “Dashing Through the Snow.” Although the film was a comedy, Ludacris portrayed his character in a compassionate, competent and relatable way.
His character exemplified some key qualities of social workers: empathy, problem-solving, and dedication to help individuals and families in need.
Ludacris’ message on social media and his portrayal of social workers have helped dispel stereotypes, raise the morale of members of the profession, and educate the public about the positive contributions social workers make in our society. That is why NASWF is delighted to honor him with the International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award.