National Fatherhood Initiative ::: Press Release

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2004

Contact: Vincent DiCaro
301-948-0599

National Fatherhood Initiative Presents 2004 Fatherhood Awards
Diverse Group of Individuals and Corporations to be Honored in Atlanta

GAITHERSBURG, MD – National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) presented the 2004 Fatherhood Awards during the annual Fatherhood Awards Gala at the 7th National Summit on Fatherhood in Atlanta, Georgia on June 8, 2004.

Roland C. Warren, NFI President said, “Through their roles as actors, business leaders, musicians, filmmakers, athletes, authors, and fathers, the individuals we are honoring this year have helped spread the message that involved, responsible, and committed fatherhood is an essential ingredient in building healthy children and a healthy society. The corporations on this year’s list, through their father-friendly advertising campaigns, have also been a powerful voice in bringing this important message to the public.”

NFI was proud to present the 2004 Fatherhood Awards to the following individuals and corporations:

Jim Abrahams – Famed Hollywood director (Airplane!, The Naked Gun) who gave up his career to care for his epileptic son, Charlie. Abrahams started the Charlie Foundation to fight pediatric epilepsy and spread the word about the ketogenic diet to treat seizures.
Cris Carter – Former Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver is a devoted husband and father of two children.
S. Truett Cathy – Founder and Chairman of Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a renowned philanthropist, supporting youth-centered programs for the past two decades. He is a devoted husband and father of three, and grandfather of twelve.
Richard Marx – Famed recording artist whose albums have topped the charts since 1987. Marx will be awarded for the Grammy Award-winning song “Dance With My Father,” which he co-wrote with Luther Vandross.
Carlos Ponce – Up-and-coming Latin actor and recording artist, who has appeared on shows such as 7th Heaven, Beverly Hills 90210, and Entertainment Tonight. Ponce is a devoted husband and father of four children.
Tracy Droz Tragos – Award-winning documentary filmmaker will be awarded for her directorial debut, “Be Good, Smile Pretty,” which chronicles her journey to learn about her father, who died in Vietnam when she was an infant.
BeBe Winans – Grammy-winning gospel and inspirational recording artist is a devoted father of two.

The following corporations were awarded for their father-friendly marketing campaigns, both in print and television: Canon U.S.A., Inc., Cheerios™, Marriott International, and New York Life Insurance Company.

Inaugurated in 1997, the Fatherhood Awards are presented each year to individuals, corporations, and organizations that make a substantial contribution to strengthening involved, responsible, and committed fatherhood in their work or personal lives. Past Fatherhood Awardees include: actors James Earl Jones, Tom Selleck, and Stephen Collins; country music superstar Tim McGraw; NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly; Multi-Platinum Recording Group Lonestar; AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, and Chevrolet.

The 2004 Fatherhood Awards Gala took place on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 at 6:00 P.M. at the Westin Peachtree Plaza. The Gala featured performances by Dave Koz, BeBe Winans, and Richard Marx.

The premier fatherhood renewal organization in the country, NFI is a non-partisan, non-sectarian civic initiative working in every sector and at every level of society to end father absence. NFI’s national public service advertising campaign promoting responsible fatherhood has generated radio and television time valued at over $320 million. Through its National Fatherhood Clearinghouse and Resource Center, NFI offers a wide range of educational materials and outreach tools to assist local organizations interested in reaching and supporting fathers.

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