Actress Jane Seymour to Receive 2006 Golden Karma Award December 2, for Her Work With the American Red Cross Measles Initiative

Actress Jane Seymour to Receive 2006 Golden Karma Award December 2, for Her Work With the American Red Cross Measles Initiative

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress, artist, designer and author, Jane Seymour is being honored tomorrow (December 2) with a 2006 Golden Karma Award for her extensive work with the American Red Cross and the Measles Initiative.

The Award is given by, "Success for Good," an Arizona-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and raising awareness for the nonprofit sector, including the American Red Cross. The Golden Karma Award is given in recognition of the philanthropic actions of celebrities, sports figures and high profile individuals.

Seymour, an American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet Member, inspired an eye-opening documentary filmed by her husband James Keach. The documentary, "Disease of the Wind," chronicles the tragedy of measles and the race to eliminate the disease. Through a seven day humanitarian journey to Kenya in 2002, with Seymour and the American Red Cross, viewers of the documentary got a glimpse of the tragedy, and also the hope, of a nation riddled with a deadly disease. Seymour learned first-hand how measles kills a half million children each year in Africa but also learned that with enough hope, care and support, precious lives can and are being saved. During its first five years (2001-2005) the Measles Initiative vaccinated 217 million children in more than 40 African countries saving 1.2 million lives.

"We were only able to go into some of these places because we were with the Red Cross and they were trusted. The people knew we were there to do something good," said Seymour. "We didn't consider the trip a hardship -- we couldn't -- as our hardships didn't even compare to what the kids living there face."

"The American Red Cross is thrilled Jane Seymour is being honored with a Golden Karma Award for her leadership, compassion and belief in the Red Cross humanitarian mission. Her steadfast support and active involvement in the Measles Initiative, a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally, is inspirational," said Julie Thurmond Whitmer, Director, Celebrity and Entertainment Outreach, American Red Cross. "We are grateful to 'Success for Good' for recognizing Jane's philanthropic endeavors and presenting her with this well deserved honor," Whitmer added.

The awards event will be a star-studded black-tie gala on Saturday, December 2, 2006 at the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event will be hosted by "Entertainment Tonight" co-host Mark Steines and televised, for the first time, nationally on Superstation WGN Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at 9:00p.m. EST/6:00p.m.PST.

The goal of broadcasting the Golden Karma Awards ceremony on television is to mentor millions of people about philanthropy and engage them to become involved, or more involved, in supporting nonprofit organizations.

For more information on the Measles Initiative see, http://www.measlesiniative.org/

The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors- across the street, across the country and across the world-in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new-the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through more than 800 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood-the gift of life-through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of more than 180 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

Editorial note:

The 2006 Golden Karma Awards will given December 2, 2006 and be televised, for the first time, nationally on Superstation WGN Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at 9:00p.m. EST/6:00p.m. PST.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: American Red Cross

CONTACT: Carol L. Miller of the American Red Cross, +1-202-303-5040

Web site: http://www.redcross.org/
http://www.measlesiniative.org/

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