Celebrating a Rocky Mountain High!
While a major snowstorm was falling outside, inside the room of the Hyatt Regency Denver, the vibe was warm and friendly as more than 700 cable industry participants gathered in Denver for the 26th Annual Walter Kaitz Foundation Fundraising Dinner on Wednesday, October 28, 2009.
CNN Newsroom anchor T.J. Holmes entertained the crowd with a hilarious impromptu riff on the weather as industry supporters and dinner sponsors collectively contributed more than $1 million for programs promoting diversity in cable. The dinner’s theme was “Make a Statement. Make a Difference.”
The evening marked the first time The Walter Kaitz Foundation Annual Fundraising Dinner took place as part of Cable Connection Fall activities, a week-long series of industry events and conferences. Judging by the turnout and the enthusiasm, the pairing was a hit. “While the weather outside was frosty, the dinner was a warm gathering that celebrated the industry’s strides for greater inclusion,” said David Porter, Executive Director of the Walter Kaitz Foundation. “Once again, the entire cable industry generously stepped up to support the Foundation’s efforts on behalf of women and people of color.”
Highlights of the evening included inspiring remarks delivered by three individuals whose cable industry careers have been touched by contributions from organizations supported by The Walter Kaitz Foundation. Following them to the stage were representatives of the two organizations honored as 2009 Diversity Champions: Comcast Corporation and Turner Broadcasting System.
Accepting the award on behalf of Turner Broadcasting, Chairman and CEO, Phil Kent talked about the importance of reflecting the diversity of cable’s audiences and customers within the companies that serve them. In prepared remarks for the Dinner, Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts talked about living up to the legacy of company co-founder Daniel Aaron, a longtime champion of diversity, and striving to “make the tent wider and bigger all the time.”
The funds generated from the dinner help fuel the activities of the Walter Kaitz Foundation’s diversity efforts, along with those of three industry-based organizations with programs and activities designed to prepare people of color and women for executive positions in the cable industry. Those groups are the Emma L. Bowen Foundation, the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), and Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT). These organizations focus on leadership and professional development, career coaching, skills training, mentoring, and professional internships.
To all those who attended and who support our mission, thank you for making a statement – and a difference – for diversity. We’ll continue to advance this important cause with The 27th Annual Walter Kaitz Foundation Fundraising Dinner. We hope to see you there!
