Nationally Televised Awards Gala Will Recognize Matlin For Longstanding Commitment To Children
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (March 19, 2004) — When she received the Academy Award for Best Actress and became the youngest person ever to receive that honor, Marlee Matlin accomplished what many would see as her greatest achievement. Yet this highly acclaimed actress is so much more than an Oscar winner—she is an activist who believes in taking a stand and getting personally involved with making children's lives better. And for that, Children's Miracle Network announced today it will honor her with the Children's Miracle Achievement Award at its fourth annual event this month in Orlando, Fla.
The Children's Miracle Awards presented by Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company, a televised gala hosted by Children's Miracle Network co-founders Marie Osmond and John Schneider, will take place Saturday, March 27 at Walt Disney World.
According to Children's Miracle Network president and CEO, Mick Shannon, "Marlee Matlin has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to children and has contributed in many ways to bettering the lives of children everywhere. For deaf and hearing impaired children as well as children affected by AIDS, Marlee is breaking down barriers and opening a new world of possibilities."
Through her work with the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Matlin has helped provide care, support and hope to thousands of children across the U.S. To improve the lives of deaf and hearing impaired children, she has been instrumental in getting Congress to pass closed captioning legislation and encouraging legislators to support advances in assistive technology. Matlin constantly gets involved with many other children's causes as well, whether it's helping babies through the Center for the Education of the Infant Deaf, cheering up seriously ill children through the Starlight Foundation, or reaching out to kids with disabilities through VSA Arts, Easter Seals or Best Buddies.
Over the years, Matlin's volunteering spirit and activism on behalf of children have earned her recognition as a presidential appointee to the Corporation for National Service board. Ever focused on kids, she has also written a children's book entitled "Deaf Child Crossing," starred in children's programming, and is raising four children of her own. Year after year, Matlin's continuing impact on the lives of children is evident.
Marlee Matlin has received a Best Actress Oscar, a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama, and multiple Emmy Award nominations. She currently stars in NBC's award-winning "The West Wing."
Past Miracle Award recipients include actor/director Christopher Reeve, then First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, children's rights activist Marian Wright Edelman, CNN's Larry King, Entertainment Tonight's Mary Hart, actor Edward James Olmos, and sports figures Jackie Joyner Kersey and Sugar Ray Leonard.
About Children's Miracle Network
Children's Miracle Network—the alliance of premier hospitals for children—is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. To learn more go to www.cmn.org.
About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides air transportation for passengers and freight throughout the United States and around the world. As of February 1, 2004, Delta (including its wholly owned subsidiaries, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. and Comair, Inc.) served 206 domestic cities in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as 48 international cities in 32 countries. Delta mainline, domestic and international service, Song™, Delta Shuttle®, Delta Connection®, Delta SkyTeam®, and Worldwide Partners operate 7,664 flights each day to over 497 cities in 84 countries.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches. Founded in 1886, the Company is the world's leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, used to produce more than 300 beverage brands. The Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite. The corporate headquarters are in Atlanta, with local operations in over 200 countries around the world. The Company's beverages are consumed at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day.
