News Release
Saturday, February 7, 2009
NEA Foundation Honors Sesame Workshop, Verizon at February 6 Gala in Washington, DC
Annual Gala Celebrates and Recognizes Outstanding Achievements in Public Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 3, 2009) — At its annual Salute to Excellence in Education awards gala on February 6, the NEA Foundation today announced that it will present its 2009 Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education to Sesame Workshop and its inaugural Award for Philanthropy in Public Education to Verizon. A national celebration of the men and women who work in America’s public schools, the Washington, DC event attracts almost 900 leaders from public education, business, philanthropy and the government.
Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street, today reaches 120 million children worldwide and is known as the world’s single largest informal educator of children. Both Sesame Street and the NEA Foundation share a commitment to public education.
“We selected Sesame Workshop because of its work to make a lasting and monumental impact in early childhood education through its celebrated and truly visionary Sesame Workshop,” said Harriet Sanford, NEA Foundation President & CEO.
“Since its inception, Sesame Street has encouraged a love of learning that has helped prepare children to enter school,” said Carol-Lynn Parente, Executive Producer, Sesame Street. “We are honored to accept this award from an organization that shares our commitment to givingall children the opportunity to reach their highest potential.”
The Foundation’s inaugural Award for Philanthropy in Public Education,which is being given to Verizon, is presented to corporations and other entities in recognition of their philanthropic support of public education, schools, and educators. With a long history of supporting quality educational resources and a variety of literacy programs, and an annual giving budget of $76 million dollars,Verizon’s foundation is one of the top 20 corporate foundations.
“The power of the private sector to strengthen public education is critical and clearly recognized by Verizon. When organizations decide to use their resources to support educators, students win,” said LauriJ. Fitz-Pegado, Chair of the NEA Foundation’s Board of Directors. “By supporting programs that improve teaching and learning, corporations make a critical contribution to young Americans. This investment will derive benefit to us all in the end, as it leads to a stronger work force.”
Known as the Academy Awards of public education, the NEA Foundation will also recognize the nation’s top public educators, presenting more than 50 awards, most notably, the $25,000 NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence.
“These individuals have been selected by their colleagues because they have attained the highest standards of the profession, as shown by their effective instruction, advocacy for public education, commitment to diversity, and engagement of parents and community,”said Harriet Sanford, president and CEO of the NEA Foundation. “Bringing them to Washington, DC and honoring them at our gala is our thank you for their excellent work.”
The five finalists for the Awards for Teaching Excellence will receive $10,000 from the Horace Mann Companies and be honored with videos, which were, for the first time this year, created by their students with support from the Pearson Foundation. Links to these videos are available upon request. Photos and names of the state nominees and national finalists are posted and can be downloaded at http://www.neafoundation.org/gala.htm.
Selected were:
- Joseph Fatheree, a multi-media and web design teacher at Effingham High School in Effingham, IL;
- Michael Flynn, a teacher at William E. Norris Elementary School in Southampton, MA;
- Richard T. Ognibene, Jr., a chemistry and physics teacher at Fairport High School in Fairport, NY;
- Stephanie Rossi, teacher at Wheat Ridge Senior High School in Wheat Ridge, CO; and
- Marlene Srock, a first grade teacher at Bel Air Elementary School in Minot, ND.
Themeda “Symphony of Success,” the gala pays tribute to music education, with performances from national award-winning student musicians and vocalists. The Foundation, partnering with MENC: The National Association for Music Education, will announce 10 new “Teaching Improvisation Grants,”earmarked to support public educators’ work to teach improvisation to middle- and high-school music students. The grants will be awarded over the 2009-2010 school year.
About The NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation is a public charity supported by contributions from educators' dues, corporate sponsors, and others who support public education initiatives.We partner with education unions, districts, and communities to create powerful, sustainable improvements in teaching and learning. Visit www.neafoundation.org for more information. Find us on Facebook and Twitter, and visit our blog.