On Tuesday, September 18, the Ad Council hosted its biannual Congressional Media breakfast, where we recognized the invaluable pro bono resources donated by our media partners. We thanked and honored a select group of media companies for their premier support, including Entercom Communications, Discovery Communications, MSN, Fox Broadcasting Company, Tribune Broadcasting and Time Warner Cable.

Held in a ceremonial room in the Senate, the breakfast was attended by most of our 2005 awardees (including Clear Channel, Comcast Spotlight, Disney/ABC, News Corporation and Time Warner ), trade associations, nonprofit and Federal government sponsors and icons.  In addition, Ad Council Boardmembers Bill Shaw, Charlie Thurston, Marty Franks, Wally Snyder, and Stew McHie attended. We were also honored to have six Congressmembers attended to pay tribute to the honored companies, including Senator Ben Cardin and U.S. Representatives Fred Upton, Carolyn Maloney, Vito Fossella, and Jim Gerlach.

The Ad Council’s Board President, Phil Kent (Chairman & CEO of Turner Broadcasting) provided opening remarks and former Congressmembers Rick Lazio (R-NY) and Vin Weber (R-MN) served as the Masters of Ceremony.  We also paid tribute to Jack Valentiwith speeches by Senator Ted Stevens(R-AK) and Daniel Inouye(D-HI).  Jack, head of the MPAA for 38 years, worked with us on our media management campaign, galvanizing a broad cross-section of the media and entertainment industries to sponsor the campaign.

The celebratory breakfast gave the Ad Council a chance to honor and thank the media companies for all that they do to help deliver our messages to the American public.  Simply put, our 65-year legacy of producing award-winning public service advertisements would not be possible without their generosity and commitment to public service.