The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) is hosting the Celebration of Service to America Awards on Monday, June 8, 2009 to honor the outstanding efforts of local televison and radio broadcasters. Join founding sponsors Bonneville International Corporation and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) as well as other corporate sponsors, philanthropists, members of the press and government officials as they honor the exceptional public service contributions of radio and television broadcasters and local community service partners all across America. The program starts with a reception from 6 - 7 p.m., followed by dinner and presentation of the awards from 7 - 9:30 p.m.
In addition to recognizing the service of local radio and television broadcasters across the nation, NABEF's highest honor, the Leadership Award, will be presented to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in recognition of the show's extraordinary public service in bettering the lives of others. Over its first six seasons, 143 families have received Extreme Makeover homes. In addition to changing the lives of the deserving families featured on the show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" also involves viewers in making a difference for families across the country by encouraging volunteer service and charitable giving. In six seasons, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has involved 100,000 volunteers who have filled 20 food banks, planted 10,000 trees, collected 20,000 units of blood and donated 60,000 books. In addition to building homes, the team has built a firehouse, a school house, a children's theater, two little league fields, two free clinics, two churches and three soup kitchens. These examples are but a small sample of the many ways "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" gives back to local communities. Accepting the Leadership Award on behalf of "Extreme Makeover" will be Paige Hemmis (designer). 
The Service to America Guardian Award will be presented to Kelsi and Rachel Okun for starting ThanksUSA,
a non-partisan, charitable organization founded in 2005 by two 8 and 10-year-old sisters. The organization "thanks" the men and women of the United States Armed Forces by providing college, technical and vocational school scholarships for children and spouses of military members serving on active-duty status. In three years, ThanksUSA has awarded more than $5 million to more than 1,750 spouses and children of military members.
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Master of Ceremonies |
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Special Appearance |
The Service to America Awards are sponsored and produced by NABEF with major support from Bonneville International Corporation and the National Association of Broadcasters. Proceeds from this event benefit scholarships, fellowships, programs and other initiatives of NABEF.
About NABEF
NABEF is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the public interest in supporting and advocating: education and training programs, strategies to increase diversity, initiatives stressing the importance of the First Amendment, community service, philanthropy and timely broadcasting issues. Contributions to NABEF are deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
For additional information, please call
(202) 429-5368 or email [email protected].