Gracie Awards

By Adrienne Papp

Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) announced the 2011 national winners of the 36^th Annual Gracie Awards. The awards will be presented at a black-tie Gala in Los Angeles in May of 2011.

The Gracies

In preparation for the awards Gala, Gracie Award statues are being engraved for such talented women as Katie Couric, Martha Stewart, Meredith Vieira, Betty White and Alfre Woodard in recognition of such dynamic programming as ABC’s Private Practice, Oprah Radio’s No Phone Zone and CNN’s Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. The Gracies each year recognize exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women in all facets of media and entertainment, as well as individuals who have made contributions to the industry. The awards program also encourages the realistic and multifaceted portrayal of women in entertainment, news, features and other programs.

Oprah Winfrey

Each year the Gracies Gala attracts the best and brightest in all aspects of the media. In addition to the above, this year’s national winners include: Discovery’s A Conception Story, E! Entertainment Television’s Chelsea Lately, ESPN’s Hannah Storm, HBO/ Temple Grandin’s Claire Danes, Lifetime/In Plain Sight’s Rosie Perez, MSNBC’s The Assassination of Dr. Tiller, NBC/Community’s Yvette Nicole Brown, Nickelodeon/iCarly’s Miranda Cosgrove, NPR’s Female WWII Women Pilots: The Original Fly Girls, Scholastic Media’s WordGirl, and USA Network/Covert Affairs’ Piper Perabo— representing a broad cross-section of outstanding actors, anchors, stories and programs.

Katie Couric

“The power of this year’s Gracie Award winners showcases how vital a role women in the industry continue to have,” stated 2011 AWM Chair Sylvia Strobel, Esq. “We look forward to honoring these deserving programs and individuals.”

“With such a talented and diverse group of women being honored, this year’s Gracie Gala promises to a memorable and inspiring event,” said AWM President Erin M. Fuller, CAE.  “We’re also delighted to have Dove return as the Gracies’ 2011 title sponsor.”

The Gracies are presented by the AWM Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AWM, which supports educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public and women in the media. The Gracie Awards, established in 1975, honor programming and individuals of the highest caliber in all facets of radio, television, cable and web-based media, including news, drama, comedy, public service, documentary and sports.

Martha Stewart

Supporting the Gracies is synonymous with supporting women’s achievements in all facets of media and entertainment. Sponsored tables are available ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

The Alliance for Women in Media leverages the promise, passion and power of women in all forms of media. Formerly known as American Women in Radio & Television, AWM is the longest-established professional association dedicated to advancing women in media and entertainment, and will celebrate its 60^th anniversary in 2011. The Alliance for Women in Media carries forth its mission by educating, advocating and acting as a resource to its members and the industry at large via inspired thought leadership that illuminates areas of societal need.

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (formerly known as The Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television) supports and promotes educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public, the electronic media and allied fields. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation has created partnerships and joint-initiatives with the National Middle School Association, the Emma Bowen Foundation, the American Red Cross and other organizations that are philosophically aligned with the mission of the Foundation. The Foundation supports several public service campaigns, including most recently a radio PSA campaign with the Dove Self-Esteem Fund. The Foundation also supports Empowering America^®, an initiative which pays tribute to many of America’s most pioneering and inspiring women. Through this program, the Foundation provides Empowering America^® educational collateral to needy urban middle schools around the country. The Foundation also produces nationally acclaimed recognition programs, including the Gracie Awards^®, a live gala that honors exemplary programming created for, by, and about women.

Kathryn Bigelow

Claire Daines

2011 Gracie Award Winners – National (in alphabetical order)

60 Minutes: Interview with Kathryn Bigelow

Outstanding Interview Program

CBS News

A Conception Story

Outstanding Series

Discovery Communications

Suze Orman

Alexandra Pelosi

Outstanding Director – News/Non-Fiction

HBO/Motel Kids of Orange County

Alfre Woodard

Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series or Special

TNT/Delta Blues

Anne Thompson

Outstanding Reporter/Correspondent

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams

Betty White

Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in Comedy Series or Special

Betty White

TV Land/Hot in Cleveland

Breakthrough Women

Outstanding Series

HLN

Chelsea Lately

Outstanding Talk Show – Entertainment/Information

E! Entertainment Television

Claire Danes

Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama Series or Special

HBO/Temple Grandin

CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute

Outstanding Special or Variety

CNN

Hannah Strom

Corny Koehl

Outstanding Producer – Entertainment

Harpo Radio/The Gayle King Show

E:60 Chelsea Baker

Outstanding Soft News Feature

ESPN

Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls

Outstanding Portrait/Biography

NPR

Francia Raisa

Outstanding Female Rising Star in a Drama Series or Special

ABC Family/Secret Life of an American Teenager

Hannah Storm

Meredith Vieira

Outstanding Producer – News/Non-Fiction

ESPN

In The Same Boat

Outstanding Interview Program or Feature

RTÉ Radio 1

Janet Tamaro

Outstanding Producer – Entertainment

TNT/Rizzoli & Isles

Julie McCarthy

Julie McCarthy

Outstanding Reporter/Correspondent

NPR

Katie Couric

Outstanding Host – News/Non-Fiction

CBS Evening News with Katie Couric

Kung Fu Grannies

Outstanding Soft News Feature

World Vision Report

Lynn Hermstad

Outstanding Director – Entertainment

Dr. Phil Show

Martha Stewart

Outstanding Host – Entertainment/Information

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Meredith Vieira

Outstanding Anchor – News

NBC/The Today Show

Miranda Cosgrove

Miranda Cosgrove

Outstanding Female Rising Star in a Comedy Series or Special

Nickelodeon/iCarly

No Phone Zone

Outstanding Public Service Announcement

Harpo Radio

Outside the Lines

Outstanding Sports Program

ESPN

Piper Perabo

Outstanding Female Actor in a Breakthrough Role

USA Network/Covert Affairs

Alfre

Private Practice

Outstanding Drama

ABC

Ramona Sweats the Blind Date

Outstanding Comedy

Greater Media Charlotte

Reporting from Haiti

Outstanding Breaking News Coverage

NBC

Rosie Perez

Rosie Perez

Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama Series or Special

Lifetime Movie Network/In Plain Sight

Seeking Justice for Campus Rapes

Outstanding Hard News Feature

NPR

Skin Cancer: Beautiful Doll

Outstanding Public Service Announcement

Style Network

Sold on Craigslist

Outstanding Investigative Program or Feature

CNN

Taking Care with Joan Lunden

Outstanding Talk Show – Entertainment/Information

Retirement Living TV

The Assassination of Dr. Tiller

Outstanding Hard News Feature

MSNBC

The Current: Egg Freezing/Older Parents

Outstanding Talk Show – News

CBC Radio One

Dr. Laura Berman

The Dr. Laura Berman Show

Outstanding Talk Show – Entertainment/Information

Oprah Radio

The Little Couple

Outstanding Reality Show

TLC /LMNO Productions

The Middle

Outstanding Comedy

ABC/Warner Bros. Television

True Life Presents: Resist the Power! Saudi Arabia

Outstanding Documentary

MTV Networks

Wells Fargo Women’s eMagazine: PlanForWhat’sNext.com

Outstanding Web site – Information/Entertainment

Wells Fargo/Naka Productions

WordGirl

Outstanding Children/Adolescent Animated Program

Scholastic Media

Yvette Nicole Brown

Yvette Nicole Brown

Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy Series or Special

NBC/Community

About the Author of This Article:  Lady Adrienne Papp is a recognized journalist who has written for many publications including Savoir, Beverly Hills 90210, Malibu Beach, Santa Monica Sun, The Beverly Hills Times, Brentwood News, Bel-Air View, Celebrity Society, Celeb Staff, It Magazine, Chic Today, LA2DAY, West Side Today among many others. She is the President and CEO of Los Angeles / New York-based publicity company, Atlantic Publicityand publishing house, Atlantic Publisher. Adrienne writes about world trends, Quantum Physics, entertainment and interviews celebrities, world leaders, inventors, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. She also owns Atlantic United Films that produces and finances true stories made for theatrical release or the silver screen. Spotlight News Magazineis owned by Atlantic United, Incwith Adrienne Pappbeing the majority shareholder.

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By Adrienne Papp

Fulfilling the potential of his Matrix character title, Keanu Reeves proved that he is also The One when it comes to auto racing. He took the checkered flag in the competitive celebrity field at the 2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race as part of the 35th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, California.

The star of blockbuster films like The Matrix, The Day The Earth Stood Still, and Speed, Reeves finished first among celebrities in a mixed field that included racing pros Al Unser Jr. who won the Pro division with just five seconds ahead of Keanu. Other participating celebrities included Oscar winner Adrien Brody, Jeopardy host Alex Trebek, comedian Carlos Mencia, 24 star Mary Lynn Rajskub and From G’s To Gents host Fonzworth Bentley.

The event is a popular tradition during the festivities of the Grand Prix weekend, and had the crowd cheering on their favorite celebs throughout the entire race. Both celebrities and professional racers were very success driven as they attempted to win some funds for charities, driving Scion tCs that had been performance modified for the event especially. Not that it made car racing any safer.

With proper training and practice, competing celebrities learned the driving skills needed to navigate the 1.97-mile racetrack through the streets of downtown Long Beach. And although their competitive natures came out during practice, the drivers also enjoyed the camaraderie of experience, which is what the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is really all about.

World champion pro skateboarder Danny Way led the celeb race for the most part, but got tangled up with Fonzworth Bentley on the ninth lap and ended up hitting the track wall in a head on collision. Reeves then gained the speed necessary and seized the opportunity to cross the finish line first, just seconds in front of E! Entertainment Television’s Executive News Editor, Ken Baker, and comedian Carlos Mencia. Carlos was a funnyman off track and on.

Keanu seemed almost surprised by his triumph even though his chance to win was obvious to me from the beginning. He was not only intensely focused, which is key factor according to Jeff Bodnar who trained Keanu, but also showed continuous commitment.  “It is such a great feeling,” Reeves said after the event. “Bentley and I had been going at it for most of the race, but when I got to the last lap and came around the fountain turn I almost couldn’t believe it. I figured, ‘I’m just gonna go get it.’”

Now the popular multitalented actor (also bassist for rock band Dogstar, and a fan of the heart warming documentary, Anvil! The Story of Anvil!) can add car racing to his resume. It’s probably too early to tell if he has the same bug that got into the blood of actors like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and James Dean, but Reeves looked like a natural in his red and white Toyota racing suit, and took the checkered flag with great enthusiasm for a great cause. He is an active supporter of many charities, including Angelwear, City of Hope, Coach Art, PETA, Stand Up To Cancer and Wildlife Way Station.

Reeves’ acceptance of the trophy was followed by contributions to various charities, which made everyone’s participation all that more worthy. Toyota donated $5,000 to “Racing for Kids” in the name of each celebrity racer, and another $5,000 to the winning racer’s charity of choice. Racing for Kids is a national non-profit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, California.

Another $15,000 donation was made in conjunction with the annual “PEOPLE Pole Award.” Sponsored by PEOPLE magazine, the award was given to Danny Way who was the pole-position winner of the qualifying session. Way selected the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC) as his charity.  Keanu Reeves’ big win will also benefit the charities of his choice, and adds to the list of his contributions on so many levels, not just to film, but also many other causes.

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