Four Honored For Helping Children In Second Annual Children's Miracle Awards

Children's Miracle Network
Wednesday, 27 March 2002

Edward James Olmos, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marilyn McCoo and Merlin Olsen Are Recognized for Making Generous Contributions to the Lives of Children in Televised Awards Event Presented by Delta Air Lines

The oft quoted thought is true: "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." This is the maxim by which four award recipients live their lives. The four will receive awards during a televised gala hosted by CNN's Larry King.

The Children's Miracle Network Miracle Awards presented by Delta Air Lines will be held tonight at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando. The event will be produced for television and air the first weekend in June on a syndicated network of 200 stations throughout the United States and Canada. Delta Miracle Award recipients have each demonstrated a long-standing commitment to children and have contributed in many ways to bettering the lives of children everywhere. Award presenters include NFL MVP Kurt Warner, Olympic champions Mary Lou Retton and Rulon Gardner, future Hall of Famer Steve Young, ESPN's Dan Patrick, and seven-time Grammy Award winner Billy Davis, Jr.

The Children's Miracle Achievement Award will be presented to actor, director, and producer Edward James Olmos for his tireless dedication in improving the lives of at-risk children, for helping children embrace their heritage, and for providing better opportunities for all children. A similar award will be given to boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, a champion of the fight against juvenile diabetes, for his commitment to keeping kids healthy, drug-free and violence-free. And Achievement Awards will be presented to Grammy Award winner Marilyn McCoo and NFL Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who in 1983 were both inaugural hosts of The Children's Miracle Network Telethon and have been devoted to helping hospitalized kids ever since.

"We felt it was high time for some exceptional individuals to receive some recognition for what they do for children," said Children's Miracle Network President and CEO Mick Shannon. "These people have done so much for so many and have never sought, nor received due recognition for their work. We thought it was appropriate for us to do so now."

"Delta's involvement in this event was a natural step for us," said Delta president and COO Fred Reid, who also will present a Delta Miracle Maker Award to Lori Lehman-Keuffel, a Delta employee credited with developing and coordinating several programs for hospitalized and homeless children in her hometown of Salt Lake City. "Our company's corporate philosophy goes hand-in-hand with the commitments these individuals have made to advance the causes of children and youth."

The evening's entertainment will include the vocal talents of the reigning Miss America, Katie Harman; country singer Tracy Byrd; the Canadian "queen of the fiddle," Natalie MacMaster; and 7-year-old singing sensation Heather Meyer.

About Edward James Olmos

Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Edward knows the challenges faced by inner-city kids and is passionate about helping them. As executive director of the Lives in Hazard Educational Project, a national gang prevention program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Edward has helped kids across the country understand the true nature of gangs and violence. Cited by former Attorney General Janet Reno and former President Bill Clinton as "one of the foremost programs of its kind," the project has had a tremendous impact.

A strong believer in solving social problems through tolerance and understanding, Edward spends a great deal of time speaking at schools and juvenile institutions across the United States. His popularity with young audiences attests to the strength of his conviction and the power of his messages. One of these messages, "Education is the vaccine for violence," has become a widely used phrase and is now included in many collections of famous quotes.

Edward also helps kids celebrate diversity and appreciate their heritage through projects such as the Los Angeles Latino Book and Family Festival and children's programs at the Latino International Film Festival.

In addition to his other efforts, Edward serves as the United States Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF; as a national spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; as a proponent of the Rockefeller Foundations' Recruiting New Teachers program; and on the boards of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Miami Children's Hospital, the UCLA Mentoring Program, Children's Action Network, and the National Council on Adoption.

His highly acclaimed work has earned him an Emmy, two Golden Globe Awards, the LA Drama Circle Award, a Tony Award nomination, and an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of a devoted math teacher in "Stand and Deliver," a film he also produced.

About Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard once said, "We need everyone's participation to make a difference in the lives of our kids." As an activist in the fight to keep kids healthy, drug-free and violence-free, Sugar Ray not only knows what it takes to make a difference, he is also working tirelessly to make it a reality.

A vitally important children's cause that he has championed is the fight against juvenile diabetes. For many years Sugar Ray has served as international chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Through the JDRF he is working to help find a cure for the tens of thousands of children who are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes each year. This disease—one of the most costly chronic diseases a child can encounter—strikes suddenly, makes children insulin dependent for life, and carries the threat of devastating complications including blindness, kidney failure and stroke.

"This is something that is dear to my heart," Sugar Ray said. Having seen his father, family members and friends battle diabetes, he is especially concerned about the effects of the disease on children and is determined to give something back by aiding the search for a cure.

Throughout his career Sugar Ray has also taken an active role against drugs, gangs and violence and the effect they have on young people everywhere. Sugar Ray consistently speaks at schools in an attempt to educate kids about the perils of violence and gangs and help guide them toward safe, productive alternatives.

Sugar Ray also devotes time to supporting a variety of children's causes such as the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, which raises funds for pediatric research.

Hailed as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Sugar Ray Leonard achieved worldwide fame when he won a gold medal in his sport at the 1976 Olympic Games. During his 20-year professional career, Sugar Ray won World Titles in five divisions and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.

About Marilyn McCoo and Merlin Olsen

As Children's Miracle Network celebrates 20 years of helping hospitalized children, those who have helped build this legacy must be recognized and applauded.

For NFL Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen and Grammy winner Marilyn McCoo, helping kids through Children's Miracle Network has been a labor of love that has spanned two decades.

They have both been devoted to Children's Miracle Network from the beginning, generating international publicity and bringing millions of viewers to the cause along the way. In 1983 they hosted the inaugural Children's Miracle Network Telethon. And as the organization grew, Marilyn and Merlin became well-recognized faces on Children's Miracle Network's annual television fund raiser, co-hosting from the Osmond Studios in Orem, Utah, in the early years, from Disneyland in the years that followed, and finally from Walt Disney World where the Children's Miracle Network Celebration takes place today.

Over the years Marilyn and Merlin have shared the stage at the annual broadcast with actors, comedians and musicians such as Bob Hope, Dean martin, Rich Little, Bo Jackson, Mary Hart, Kenny Loggins and Bill Cosby. Marilyn has not only hosted but performed as well, singing both solo and with her husband, Billy Davis, Jr.

From the $4.7 million raised during Children's Miracle Network's first year to the $229 million raised in 2001, Marilyn and Merlin have helped tens of millions of children overcome illness and injury and live healthier, happier lives.

One of the most decorated football players of all time, Merlin Olsen also worked as an NFL analyst for CBS and NBC and acted in several TV series including "Little House on the Prairie."

Marilyn McCoo is recognized as one of the top 10 black female vocalists of the rock era, placing her alongside greats like Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross.

About Children's Miracle Network

Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Children's Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 children's hospitals throughout North America. Each year these non-profit hospitals treat more than 17 million children afflicted with diseases, injuries and birth defects of every kind. For more information, visit them on the web at www.cmn.org.

About Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines, the world's second largest carrier in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. airline across the Atlantic, offers 5,590 flights each day to 410 destinations in 71 countries on Delta, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection carriers and Delta's worldwide partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. For more information, please go to delta.com.

For more information, or to contact Children's Miracle Network, see their website at: www.cmn.org