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NAN’S TRIUMPH AWARDS HONOR TYLER PERRY, CHRIS ROCK & OTHERS RAISING OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE ACTIVIST GROUP BEGINNING WITH 200K FROM TYLER PERRY

October 20, 2011-(New York, NY)-National Action Network (NAN) and Reverend Al Sharpton hosted the 2^nd annual Triumph Awards on October 19^th, 2011 at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the star-studded event was highlighted by Tyler Perry writing a personal check for $200,000 and funds and pledges raised over a million dollars for the group. Mr. Perry received the Chairman’s Award for Historic and Transformative Service. Other highlights included an awards presentation to Chris Rock who received the President’s Award for Service and Humanitarian efforts for the work that he and his wife Malaak have done in the community, and an appearance by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at the 2^nd annual event that celebrates individuals that have used their art and creativity to make a positive impact on humanity.

Rev. Sharpton says “NAN honors those who have used their art and creativity to make a difference and I am glad they have raised the funds to continue efforts across the country.” NAN’s National Executive Director Tamika D. Mallory accepted the check and remarked that “Mr. Perry’s contribution and others will help NAN to continue grassroots efforts and expand its chapters across the United States that engage in crucial civil rights work.”

The Triumph Awards honored those who have made a positive impact beyond their performance on stage, in the arts, in sports, and in the community and included honorees Tyler Perry, Tyler Perry Studios, Chris & Malaak Rock, Marva Smalls, Viacom, Nickelodean; Jimmie Lee Solomon, Major League Baseball; Los Angeles Sparks forward and WNBA legend Tina Thompson; Maurice Cox, PepsiCo; Attorney General Kamala Harris State of California; and the Honorable Judge Greg Mathis. The evening featured a performance by The Cast of Layon Gray’s Award Winning play Black Angels Over Tuskegee starring Lamman Rucker as well as a special musical performance by Multi-Platinum recording artist Joe. The event was hosted by NBC News correspondent Mara Schiavocampo. The event co-chairs were Tonya Lee, Author & Producer and Paula Madison, CEO of Madison Media Management.

Since the last Triumph Awards, National Action Network has cemented itself as one of the top civil rights organizations in the country. Whether continuing the fight against racial profiling, defending parents for putting their children in school districts in Ohio and Connecticut, or joining with labor organizations to protect worker’s rights in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Indiana, National Action Network, has been working tirelessly around the country on social justice issues.  This includes dealing with the death penalty by leading the fight for Troy Davis, and dealing with corporate accountability by partnering with the National Urban League and the NAACP on the historic Memorandum of Understanding around the Comcast/NBC Universal merger, National Action Network has continued grassroots efforts around fighting gun violence and while doing education advocacy.

 

 

NAN and its 46 chapters have been so effective that the organization is the only civil rights group who the President of the United States personally addressed at their national convention this year and had five members of his Cabinet come and speak. As testimony to NAN being one of the major civil rights organizations of our time, its effectiveness was on display last weekend as NAN continues the fight for the Jobs Bill and Education Reform and successfully mobilized 40,000 people to march with them in Washington, DC, for jobs and justice and on Sunday Rev. Sharpton was one of the main speakers before President Obama at the King Monument Dedication. It has truly been a pivotal year for National Action Network and the coming year is going to be a triumphant year for the organization.

 

NAN held the inaugural National Action Network Triumph Awards on November 15, 2010 at Rose Hall in Jazz at Lincoln Center. Honorees included: world renowned musician, six-time Grammy Award winner and education activist John Legend who received the Triumph Education Award, Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad, Fela! The Broadway Musical, Cathy Hughes, founder and chairperson of Radio One, Inc., Reverend Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church and Chairman of National Action Network, the family of the late George Steinbrenner, and Television Commentator and activist Julie Menin. A special highlight included a surprise Triumph award to New York Governor David Paterson. The event was hosted by MSNBC TV hosts Ed Schultz and NBC News correspondent Mara Schiavocampo.

For more information visit:  http://poetzinger.staging.wpengine.com/triumph

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