TEGNA, Gannett, Newman’s Own® and Points of Light also honored
Bravo’s Andy Cohen for his support for The American Foundation for AIDS
Research
Lester Holt, anchor of “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt”, served as
master of ceremonies
MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2016--
Grassroot volunteer efforts from across the country were recognized
today during the Make A Difference Day 2016 National Awards in
Washington, DC. The annual luncheon was hosted by TEGNA Inc. (NYSE:
TGNA) and Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) in partnership with Newman’s
Own, Inc. and Points of Light. Make A Difference Day is the largest day
of community service, bringing together millions of Americans to
volunteer in their local communities.
The Make A Difference Day Awards celebrated top volunteer efforts from
across the country for service projects completed on Make A Difference
Day on October 24, 2015. The event recognized ten national award
winners, three community award winners and one All-Star award winner.
Newman’s Own donated a total of $130,000 to national and community award
winners to give to an organization of their choice. The TEGNA Foundation
and Gannett Foundation contributed $10,000 to the All-Star Winner. These
donations will ensure that honorees are able to continue their community
projects in the years to come.
“At TEGNA, our goal is to make a meaningful impact in the communities we
serve. The volunteers recognized today have done just that. Their
efforts in their local communities are truly remarkable and they inspire
all of us to continue to make a difference every day,” said Gracia
Martore, president and CEO, TEGNA.
“We are honored to recognize those who have taken the time and effort to
make a positive impact in their community,” said Bob Dickey, president
and CEO, GANNETT. “At GANNETT, our purpose is to empower our communities
to connect, act and thrive, and we are humbled by these volunteers, who
remind us how much one person can make a difference on an entire
community.”
In addition to recognizing the national award winners, Bravo’s Andy
Cohen was recognized for serving as an advocate for amfAR, The American
Foundation for AIDS Research. The Emmy Award-winning host, producer and
acclaimed author has been a tireless amfAR advocate for more than 10
years, helping raise money and bring awareness to finding a cure for HIV.
Lester Holt, award-winning journalist and anchor of “NBC Nightly News
with Lester Holt” and “Dateline” served as the master of ceremonies.
“Volunteerism was always important to Paul Newman and Newman’s Own is
proud to support Make A Difference Day. By providing these awards, we
not only recognize those who help make a difference in others’ lives,
but we also hope to underscore the need for volunteerism in this country
and inspire others to join in,” said David Best, president and COO of
Newman’s Own, Inc.
“In celebrating these Make A Difference Day honorees, we can find
inspiration to take action in our own lives,” said Tracy Hoover, CEO,
Points of Light. “They remind us that we can use our special skills, our
talents, our dollars or our tweets to create positive change every day.
In return, the best part of service is that it awakens our passions and
connects us to one another.”
This year’s Make A Difference Day award winners were selected from
thousands of nationwide volunteer initiatives after millions of
volunteers came together on October 24, 2015, with a common mission: to
improve the lives of others. Award winners made an impact in their
communities by rebuilding neighborhood parks, raising money for local
food banks, planting trees and several other projects that made a
positive impact in local communities.
The ten 2015 national Make A Difference Day Award honorees include:
-
Return of the Natives, Salinas, CA
-
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Muncie, IN
-
Scrap Hunger, Lincroft, NJ
-
Animal Friends, Pittsburgh and Wexford, PA
-
The Pediatric Connection, Richmond, VA
-
Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA
-
GFWC Beverly Hills Junior Women’s Club, Chicago, IL
-
Volunteer Center of Story County, Ames, IA
-
Stanwood High School, Stanwood, WA
-
Taking Root, Cincinnati, OH
The three 2015 Community Award honorees are:
-
Richmond, CA
-
Moonachie, NJ
-
Aberdeen, SD
The All-Star Award is:
-
Operation Access, Sonoma County, CA
Make A Difference Day started after a call for a national day of service
one Leap Year (February 29, 1992). It has evolved into the largest
single day of volunteering in the country. It is a initiative of TEGNA
and Gannett, in collaboration with Points of Light and Newman’s Own.
Make A Difference Day 2016 will be held on Saturday, October 22. For
more information and to read more about this year’s honorees, please go
to www.makeadifferenceday.com.
About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is comprised of a dynamic portfolio of media and
digital businesses that provide content that matters and brands that
deliver. TEGNA reaches more than 90 million Americans and delivers
highly relevant, useful and smart content, when and how people need it,
to make the best decisions possible. TEGNA Media includes 46 television
stations and is the largest independent station group of major network
affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of
all television households nationwide. TEGNA Digital is comprised of
Cars.com, the leading online destination for automotive consumers,
CareerBuilder, a global leader in human capital solutions, and other
powerful brands such as G/O Digital and Cofactor. For more information,
visit www.TEGNA.com.
About Gannett
Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a next-generation media company
committed to strengthening communities across our network. Through
trusted, compelling content and unmatched local-to-national reach,
Gannett touches the lives of more than 100 million people monthly. With
more than 120 markets internationally, it is known for Pulitzer
Prize-winning newsrooms, powerhouse brands such as USA TODAY and
specialized media properties. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com.
About Newman’s Own, Inc.
Newman’s Own, Inc., founded by Paul Newman in 1982, offers more than 200
varieties of great tasting food and beverage products including salad
dressings, pasta sauces, coffee, salsa, cookies, candy, snacks, frozen
pizza, frozen skillet meals, and refrigerated lemonades, as well as a
line of premium pet food products. Newman’s Own Foundation continues
Paul Newman’s commitment to donate all of its royalties and after tax
profits from the sale of Newman’s Own products for charitable purposes.
More than $460 million has been given to thousands of charities since
1982. Learn more at newmansown.com and newmansownfoundation.org.
About Points of Light
Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to
volunteer service – inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to
take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities
across more than 30 countries and partnerships with thousands of
nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 4 million
volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. For more
information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160512006388/en/
Source: TEGNA Inc. and Gannett Co., Inc. and Newman’s Own, Inc. and Points of Light
TEGNA Inc.
Steve Kidera, 703-854-6077
skidera@tegna.com
or
Gannett
Co., Inc.
Chrissy Terrell, 703-854-5292
Caterrell@usatoday.com
or
Coyne
PR (for Newman’s Own, Inc.)
Sinead Conlon, 212-938-0166
sconlon@coynepr.com
or
Points
of Light
Jennifer Geckler, 404-979-2941
jgeckler@pointsoflight.org