Event Highlights
On June 6, 2011, broadcast industry leaders were joined by policymakers, press and others to honor exceptional public and community service by America's local radio and television stations and other organizations. Presented by the NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) with major support from Bonneville International Corporation, Hubbard Broadcasting and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the 13th annual Celebration of Service to America Awards recognized local radio and television broadcasters for the extraordinary ways they serve their communities each and every day.
Opening and Welcome
The evening began with 10-year-old trumpet prodigy Geoffrey Gallante performing the National Anthem. Two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and anchor of "Inside Edition" Deborah Norville returned as master of ceremonies. NABEF president Marcellus Alexander welcomed the audience and presented an update on NABEF initiatives.
 Geoffrey Gallante |
 Deborah Norville |
 Marcellus Alexander |
Service to America Leadership Award
NABEF's highest honor, the Service to America Leadership Award, was presented to Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges. For almost 30 years, Bridges has been dedicated to the cause of ending childhood hunger. In 1983, he founded the End Hunger Network, a nonprofit organization that works with the entertainment industry and other partners to create and support media projects, programs and events to spread awareness and generate action to end U.S. childhood hunger. In 2010, Jeff Bridges became the national spokesman for Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® Campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.
Commonwealth Broadcasting Corp. President and CEO and NAB Joint Board of Directors Chair Steve Newberry, Hubbard Radio President and CEO and NABEF Board of Directors Chair Bruce Reese, Jeff Bridges and NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. |
Service to America Corporate Leadership Award
The Corporate Leadership Award, created to recognize non-broadcast businesses that exemplify an extraordinary focus on community service, was presented to Target Corp. Since 1946, Target has given five percent of its income – which today equals more than $3 million a week – to communities. A significant portion of this giving goes toward funding education programs, with a focus on helping more U.S. children learn to read proficiently by the end of third grade. Tracey Burton, director of Community Relations for Target Corp., accepted the award on Target's behalf.
NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith, Target Corp. Director of Community Relations Tracey Burton, Hubbard Radio President and CEO and NABEF Board of Directors Chair Bruce Reese and Commonwealth Broadcasting Corp. President and CEO and NAB Joint Board of Directors Chair Steve Newberry. |
Service to America Station Awards
Awards were presented to five local radio and television stations for their outstanding service to their communities.
Service to America Television Award
This award recognizes a television station for the totality of its efforts and its commitment to excellence in serving its community. As the only television station located in the city of Detroit, WDIV is proud to be a leader in initiating and supporting the numerous campaigns and programs that benefit their local community. "Ruth to the Rescue," led by award-winning consumer reporter and producer Ruth Spencer, worked to create solutions to a variety of challenges impacting the local community. A partnership involving several metro Detroit organizations, Help for Haiti raised two million dollars for earthquake relief and medical supplies. WDIV is involved in numerous other campaigns and activities, including Bookstock, Race for the Cure, Forgotten Harvest, Red Cross blood drives, the Arab American International Festival, Gleaners Community Food Bank and the Salvation Army/Dundee Tornado Relief Telethon among many others.
Deborah Norville, WDIV Senior Anchor Devin Scillian, General Manager Marla Drutz, News Director Kim Voet and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI). |
Service to America Community Awards
This category honors radio and television broadcasters for individual campaigns, projects or programs that serve the public good or otherwise provide exemplary service to their local communities. The Service to Community Radio Award was presented to KPLU-FM Tacoma, Wash. for creating the School of Jazz project which engages jazz professionals with public high school bands in a mentorship program. WHTM-TV Harrisburg, Pa. received the Service to Community Award for Television for "Operation Safe Kids," a campaign to encourage local residents to be proactive to protect themselves and loved ones from house fires.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, KPLU Marketing and Promotion Director Brenda Goldstein Young and Deborah Norville. |
Deborah Norville, WHTM-TV President and General Manager Joe Lewin, Director of News and Operations Dennis Fisher, anchor and reporter Valerie Pritchett and Director of Promotion and Public Service Betty Bryan-Fish, Director of Advertising for Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News Jason Greenblatt and Immediate Past Chair of the NAB Joint Board of Directors Jack Sander. |
Service to Children Awards
These awards spotlight radio and television stations for outstanding programs, campaigns and public service announcements produced for the benefit of children. The Service to Children Radio Award was presented to WHUR-RM Washington, D.C. The Service to Children Television Award was presented to WLKY Louisville, Ky.
Deborah Norville, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington Angie Reese-Hawkins, WHUR-FM General Manager Jim Watkins and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC). |
Deborah Norville, WLKY President and General Manager Glenn Haygood, Chairperson of Wednesday's Child Liz Everman, WLKY Community Affairs Director Debbie Roberson, Creative Services Director Bruce Burns and FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell. |
