AMERICAN WOMEN IN RADIO & TELEVISION SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCE NEW 2010 GENII AWARD WINNER

Congratulations to: 
The Good News Foundation
Winner of this year's
Inspiration Award

Burbank, CA   (Thursday, January 7, 2010) –American Women in Radio & Television Southern California (AWRT SoCal) is pleased to honor The Good News Foundation and its board members, including founder Wendy Burch, Reporter, KTLA;  Pat Harvey, Main Anchor, KCAL; Christine Devine, Main Anchor, KTTV; Dorothy Lucey, Host, Good Day LA;  and Ana Garcia, Anchor/Investigative Reporter, KNBC with the Inspiration Award for Excellence in Community Service at the 2010 Genii Awards to be held April 14 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The 2010 Show marks the 53^rd year of the AWRT SoCal Genii Awards, dedicated to recognizing the “Best of the Best” within the media industry in Southern California.

“It is our great honor to recognize the efforts of these fine women and their positive impact on our community,” says Laura Behrman, President of American Women in Radio & Television SoCal. “The good works of The Good News Foundation inspires all to help those in need and demonstrates the importance of service to others.”

Founded in 2006 by the women of Los Angeles television news, The Good News Foundation, is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to making a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of people in need and at-risk in greater Los Angeles. The foundation’s charitable reach includes funding academic scholarships and mentoring programs for aspiring journalists, recognizing and encouraging community service among those affiliated with Los Angeles TV news, and granting assistance to individuals and organizations that are making a dedicated difference in the community. Since its inception three years ago, The Good News Foundation has given away more than $700,000 in grants, gifts, scholarships and in-kind donations to ‘good’ news makers in Greater Los Angeles.

Previously announced 2010 Genii Award winners include:

Actress Betty White (The Golden Girls, Boston Legal, The Proposal) will be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in Acting.  Mary Hart, Host for Entertainment Tonight, is the recipient for the Excellence in Television On Air Award. Lisa Foxx, On Air for Clear Channel Radio, 104.3MYfm Los Angeles, Star 101.3 San Francisco, and Star 94.1 San Diego, will receive the Excellence in Radio On Air Award. The honoree for Excellence in Radio Management will be Rosemary Hernandez, General Sales Manager at CBSNewsRadioLA, KNX1070 NEWSRADIO and KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Karla Keller, Senior Account Executive for Anheuser Busch, will be the recipient of the Excellence in Advertising Award; and AWRT SoCal Past President and Director of Community Affairs for Southern California Broadcasters Association, 710 ESPN and Radio Disney AM 1110, LaFern Cusack, will receive the Tracey Miller Merit Award.

The Genii Awards are granted to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in television, radio, and the allied fields. Honorees are commended for their alignment to the AWRT mission statement: “To Promote Progress and Create Change.” Proceeds from the Genii Awards support AWRT SoCal’s College Scholarship Fund and educational programs.

Ticket information is available at https://zagreb.serversecured.net/~awrtsoca/GENII/partner-form/index.php.

For Sponsorship information, visit http://www.awrtsocal.org/GENII/sponsorship.php.

For more information, visit www.awrtsocal.org or email info@awrtsocal.org.

WHAT:             American Women in Radio & Television, Southern California Chapter’s 2010 Genii Awards

WHO:

NEW! Inspiration Award

The Good News Foundation

Board of Directors:

Wendy Burch, Founder/Chairperson; and Reporter, KTLA

Pat Harvey, Co-Chair; and Main Anchor, KCAL

Christine Devine, Co-Chair; and Main Anchor, KTTV

Dorothy Lucey, Secretary; and Host, Good Day LA

Ana Garcia, Board Member; and Anchor/Investigative Reporter, KNBC

Lifetime Achievement Award in Acting

Betty White, Actress (The Golden Girls, Boston Legal, The Proposal)

Excellence in Television On Air Award

Mary Hart, Host for Entertainment Tonight

Excellence in Radio On Air Award

Lisa Foxx, On Air for Clear Channel Radio, 104.3MYfm Los Angeles, Star 101.3 San Francisco, and Star 94.1 San Diego

Excellence in Radio Management Award

Rosemary Hernandez, General Sales Manager at CBSNewsRadioLA, KNX1070 NEWSRADIO and KFWB NEWS TALK 980

Excellence in Advertising Award

Karla Keller, Senior Account Executive for Anheuser Busch

Tracey Miller Merit Award

LaFern Cusack, AWRT SoCal Past President and Director of Community Affairs for Southern California Broadcasters Association, 710 ESPN and Radio Disney AM 1110

WHEN:           Wednesday, April 14, 2010
                      5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Cocktails and Silent Auction
                      7:00 p.m. Dinner and Live Auction
                      8:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony

WHERE:           Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90049

TICKETS:       https://zagreb.serversecured.net/~awrtsoca/GENII/partner-form/index.php.

TO SPONSOR: http://www.awrtsocal.org/GENII/sponsorship.php

About American Women in Radio & Television,
Southern California Chapter:

American Women in Radio & Television (AWRT) is the longest established professional association dedicated to advancing women in media and entertainment. AWRT (www.awrt.org) is a national organization with local chapters across the country.  AWRT carries forth its mission by educating, advocating and acting as a resource to its members and the industry at large.  

Founded in 1951, AWRT works to improve the quality of electronic media; promote the entry, development and advancement of women in the field; foster communication and idea exchange; and give back to the community it serves.

The Southern California Chapter of AWRT (www.awrtsocal.org) is a non-profit membership organization for women and men who work in the electronic media and allied fields in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties.  The Southern California Chapter of AWRT offers numerous local benefits to its members, including networking events, educational programs, community outreach, career counseling and occupational training. Founded in 1952, the first Chapter president was Jeanne Gray-McDonald, after whom the Chapter's prestigious Genii Award is named.

About AWRT SoCal Genii Awards:

For over 50 years, AWRT's Southern California Chapter has presented the highest honor AWRT SoCal bestows in the name of Chapter Founder, Jeanne Gray McDonald. This special honor celebrates the notable achievements of excellence executed by individuals in radio and television broadcasting.  The recipients of this prestigious honor are being saluted for their significant contributions to the industry aligned with the mission of the organization to promote progress and create change within the electronic media. 

Genii honorees are recognized for their pioneering efforts, dedicated leadership, commitment to quality and excellence, and their community contributions. Saluting the Notable Achievements of Excellence by Individuals in the Broadcasting Industry, the Genii Awards benefit AWRT SoCal's scholarship program, and educational programs.

Past Genii Award Recipients Include:

Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Whoopie Goldberg, Doris Roberts, Leeza Gibbons, Fay Kanin, and Anne Sweeney, to name a few. 

For a complete list of Genii Award winners and AWRT SoCal membership information, go to www.awrtsocal.org.