NEA Foundation Honors Sesame Workshop, Verizon at February 6 Awards Gala in Washington, DC
Annual Gala Celebrates and Recognizes Outstanding Achievements in Public Education

WASHINGTON, DC, February 05, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- At its annual Salute to Excellence in Education awards gala on February 6, the NEA Foundation today announced that it will present its 2009 Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education to Sesame Workshop and its inaugural Award for Philanthropy in Public Education to Verizon. A national celebration of the men and women who work in America's public schools, the Washington, DC event attracts almost 900 leaders from public education, business, philanthropy and the government.

Known as the Academy Awards of public education, the NEA Foundation will recognize the nation's top public educators, presenting more than 50 awards, most notably, the $25,000 NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence, which will be announced that night. Each of the five national finalists will be honored with a video, which were, for the first time this year, created by their students. Links to these videos are available upon request.

Themed a "Symphony of Success," this year's gala pays special tribute to music education, with performances from national award-winning student musicians and vocalists. The Foundation, in partnership with MENC: The National Association for Music Education, will also announce 10 new grants to be awarded to public music educators over the next year.

WHAT: The NEA Foundation's Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala

WHO: Ivan Seidenberg, CEO, Verizon Communications, Inaugural Recipient of the NEA Foundation's Award for Philanthropy to Public Education
Carol-Lynn Parente, Executive Producer, Sesame Street
Bob McGrath, Sesame Street's Bob the Music Teacher, NEA Foundation 40th Anniversary Ambassador, and Gala Emcee
Walkaround Cookie Monster and Walkaround Elmo
Harriet Sanford, President & CEO, NEA Foundation
Lauri J. Fitz-Pegago, Chair, NEA Foundation Board of Directors
Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence five national finalists

WHEN: Friday, February 6, 2009; Reception 6:30 p.m.; Dinner program, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: National Building Museum, 401 F Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001

PRESS PLAN: OPEN PRESS. Press set-up time: 6:00 p.m.

The NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation is a nonprofit, public charity created in 1969 and sustained by contributions from educators, corporate sponsors and others. The NEA Foundation offers grants and programs that support educators' efforts to close the gaps in student achievement, increase classroom innovations, salute excellence in education and provide professional development. For more information, visit www.neafoundation.org


Edith B. Wooten
Director of Communications
The NEA Foundation
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Washington, DC 20036
202.822.7834 (T) 202.822.7779 (F)

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Aaron Pope
NEA Foundation
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