Recent Press Releases from the Uncommon Friends Foundation
NATIONAL NEWS FIGURE TOM BROKAW TO SPEAK IN FORT MYERS
Contact:
Arlene Roth, Executive Director, Uncommon Friends Foundation, (239)337-9505
Fort Myers, Florida (June 25, 2008): It was announced today by the Founders of the Uncommon Friends Foundation Legacy Speakers Series that Tuesday, November 18, 2008 will mark the Premiere of the series. Launching this prestigious Legacy Speakers
Series, Tom Brokaw, one of the most trusted and respected figures in broadcast journalism, will be speaking at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers. The Founders of the Legacy Speakers Series are those individuals and companies that established the initial endowment for the series. Those Founders are: Chico’s FAS, FineMark National Bank & Trust, Tom & Kerrey Hoolihan, John E. & Aleise Price Foundation, and Pamela Templeton. In making the announcement, Founder Tom Hoolihan said, “It has been a personal mission of mine for some time to assist in the creation of a premiere speaker series that reflects the values of the Uncommon Friends Foundation. I am personally thrilled that we are well on our way and that we have such a high caliber of founding members. Having Tom Brokaw as our first speaker is truly the icing on the cake.”
The Legacy Speakers Series is a program of the Uncommon Friends Foundation. The series is, as the name implies, about history and values. Just as James Newton, author of the book Uncommon Friends, learned from the character and accomplishments of his five uncommon friends Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Dr. Alexis Carrel, and Charles Lindbergh, this speakers series has a mission to showcase modern-day, nationally renown uncommon friends who inspire and motivate with characteristics that include:
- A Spirit of Adventure
- Advancement of Science and Technology
- Advancement of Business and Industry
- Exemplary Leadership to be Emulated by Youth
Tom Brokaw stepped down from anchor and managing editor of the NBC Nightly in December 2004 after 21 years. He returned to primetime in June 2005 with an hour-long documentary about the war on terror The Long War.In July of 2005, Brokaw reported another hour-long documentary The Secret Man: The Story of Watergate’s Deep Throat and in September of 2005 In God We Trust about the religious revolution sweeping the country. In December 2005, in one of the first documentaries of its kind, Brokaw received wide acclaim by critics for his documentary Tom Brokaw Reports: To War and Back, a documentary about what happens when young men and women go to war, lose friends, get hurt and then come home. Currently Brokaw is serving as temporary host of Sunday morning’s Meet the Press after the untimely death of his friend and colleague Tim Russert. Brokaw will remain in this post until the 2008 presidential election is over.
Uncommon Friends Foundation, established in 1993, is a character education and business ethics foundation whose mission is to “instill ethics, moral values and a sense of purpose in tomorrow’s leaders.” This mission is accomplished through curriculum that spans all age levels, business ethics programs, scholarships and now the Legacy Speakers Series.
For ticket information and purchase go to www.uncommonfriends.org and click on Legacy Speakers Series.