Mina Liccione, faculty member of the Performing Arts Program at American University of Sharjah (AUS), and proprietor of the Clowns Who Care Project in Dubai, was first runner up at the Philadelphia Inspirational Woman 2013 Awards on May 14, 2013.

Liccione, who joined AUS last semester as an adjunct faculty member, was one of the three winners of the annual Spread Some Inspiration Campaign. The campaign celebrates women in the GCC for their selfless service and Liccione received $5000 for her Clowns Who Care Project.

Talking about the award, Liccione said it felt selfish to win an award for helping others. "They're really the ones who help me," she said, and urged other women to take up good deeds. "You don't need a lot of money. It's okay-you have talent and passion."

The event was organized by Mondelez International and the campaign was in partnership with UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and the winners were decided through a public voting system.