Luncheon at Marriott Marquis to Benefit Save the Children

New York, NY (June 10, 2008) — The National Father’s Day Council tomorrow will honor four outstanding men at its 67th annual Father of the Year awards presentation in New York City.

The benefit luncheon and awards presentation will take place at 12:00 p.m. in the Broadway Ballroom on the 6th Floor and will be hosted by Baseball Hall of Famer, Ozzie Smith. This year’s honorees include:

• Ron Klein — Chairman and CEO Macy’s East
  Ron Klein, Chairman of Macy's East will be honored as the Council's 2008 "Father of the Year." Mr. Klein has also been named the 2008 Milton Margolis Humanitarian Award recipient. This is only the fourth time in the 67-year history of the awards presentation that an individual has received both of these prestigious honors in the same year. Mr. Klein was named chairman of Macy's East in 2004 after serving as chairman of Rich's/Lazarus/Goldsmith's. Macy's East operates 230 stores in 20 states, including Macy's flagship store on 34th Street at Herald Square, the world's largest department store. 

• Randy Jackson — American Idol Judge, Music Mogul
  Over the last seven years, Mr. Jackson has been most recognized as a judge on FOX’s hit television show, "American Idol," which continues to garner record-breaking ratings. This year, he launched the first season of "America’s Best Dance Crew," in which dance crews from across the country compete to become America’s favorite. He also released his album "Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1", which features artists such as Paula Abdul, Joss Stone and Mariah Carey.

• Paul O’Neill — YES Network Analyst
  Paul O'Neill is in his seventh season as the New York Yankees analyst for the YES Network. He played Major League Baseball for 17 seasons, from 1985 to 2001. He appeared in six World Series and earned five World Series rings, one with the Cincinnati Reds and four with the New York Yankees. He also played in five All-Star games.

• Mark Shriver — Vice President and Managing Director of U.S. Programs for Save the Children
  Mark K. Shriver leads Save the Children’s programmatic and advocacy efforts to improve the early childhood development, literacy, physical activity and nutrition of children living in impoverished rural communities across the United States.  He also leads Save the Children’s domestic emergency response programs and efforts to ensure that the unique needs of children are incorporated into disaster preparedness, response and recovery plans.

"We are privileged to pay tribute to this year's honorees who exemplify the characteristics of not only a great Father but of a great role model for children and parents across the country," said Richard Wurtzburger of the National Father’s Day Council. "As an added honor to these exceptional fathers on Father's Day, we will donate all proceeds of the awards luncheon to Save the Children as part of our ongoing commitment to support meaningful philanthropies dealing with issues affecting parents and children."

All Star Dad Winner

The National Father's Day committee, along with Best Life Magazine and the Sani Family Foundation will also honor 2008's All Star Dad winner at the event.  This award recognizes a special dad who continuously goes above and beyond in not only his commitment to his own children, but to his community and those children needing positive role models to guide and support their growth and development.

About The National Father's Day Council
The National Father's Day Council is part of the Father's Day / Mother's Day Council, Inc. a non-profit membership association that has as its mission, the recognition and awarding of honors to role model contemporary Fathers and Mothers, while at the same time contributing to issues affecting the life and well-being of men, women and families. Past honorees have included Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, Generals Douglas MacArthur, Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf, sports notables Dwyane Wade, George Forman and Steve Young and communications leaders Tim Russert and Brian Williams. 

To date, the Father's Day/Mother’s Day Council has donated nearly $20 million to meaningful charities nationwide, which includes more than $3.5 million in 2007. 

About Save the Children
Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) is the leading independent organization creating lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children's U.S. Programs focus on underserved rural areas, where one in five children lives in poverty. Partnering with schools and community organizations, Save the Children provides high-quality early childhood education services for children from birth to age five, and literacy, physical activity and nutrition programs for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, benefiting over 35,000 children nationwide. Save the Children's work in the United States also includes emergency preparedness, response and recovery for displaced children and families. In addition, Save the Children works with local, state and national governments to ensure that the unique needs of children are integral in emergency response plans.

The National Father's Day Committee, 47 West 34th Street, Suite 534, New York, NY 10001, 212-594-5977, Fax 212-594-9349, info@fathersdaycouncil.org