New York, NY – September 21, 2023 – The Walter Kaitz Foundation raised more than $1.1M at the 40th annual Kaitz Dinner Wednesday evening at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square. The funds raised will go to industry organizations that support leadership and professional development for women, diverse professionals, and students in media and entertainment.
As the grand finale of the industry’s Diversity Week, the gala celebrated four incredible decades of efforts towards fostering diversity and inclusivity in the media and entertainment industry. Over 500 industry executives attended the celebratory event.
A special moment of the night came when Spencer Kaitz, who co-founded the dinner in 1983 in honor of his father, Walter Kaitz, delivered moving remarks on the steadfast mission of the organization. Kaitz spoke to the collective progress of the industry and expressed pride that it continues to ‘stay focused’ on fulfilling the dream of achieving a workforce of diverse people at every level, as well as the goal of eliminating the injustice of prejudice and bias.
The ChangeMaker awards presented at the dinner honored those who have made significant impact and resonance around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in media and entertainment.
The ChangeMaker Award for Creative Content was awarded to Hallmark Media’s Mahogany initiative. Mahogany has captured hearts and minds of fans all over the country through its celebration of love, joy, kindness, and human connection via the unique lens of the Black experience. Toni Judkins, Senior Vice President of Programming Development at Hallmark Media, accepted the award on behalf of the organization, recognizing their dedication to promoting diversity in storytelling.
The ChangeMaker Award for Social Impact was presented to The Hidden Genius Project, an organization dedicated to training and mentoring Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities. Brandon Nicholson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of The Hidden Genius Project, accepted the award. Following acceptance of their award, The Hidden Genius Project was surprised with a grant of $40,000 from the Kaitz Foundation for their outstanding contributions in forging pathways of opportunity.
New this year, the Foundation hosted a silent auction during the opening and closing receptions. The auction raised over $50K in auction bids, with funds raised going directly towards aiding the Foundation’s recognition of grantees and ChangeMakers.
The evening’s festivities were hosted by Zinhle Essamuah, co-anchor of NBC News Daily, known for her insightful reporting on justice, culture, and poverty, and a 2023 Emmy nominee in the Outstanding Emerging Journalist category. Esteemed co-chairs of the evening included Dalila Wilson-Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, and Detavio Samuels, CEO of REVOLT.
To cap the night’s festivities, renowned vocalist and NBC’s “The Voice” star Chris “CJW” Weaver gave a rousing performance to close out the celebration.
Contributions and support for the Walter Kaitz Foundation and its vital mission are still welcome and encouraged, as the annual fundraising drive will remain active until December 31, 2023.
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About The Walter Kaitz Foundation
The Walter Kaitz Foundation advances diversity, equity, and inclusion in the media and entertainment industry. The Foundation provides targeted grants to organizations, supports vital industry research that promotes diversity and inclusion in the workforce, and collaborates with key stakeholders on the curation and presentation of diverse content. The Foundation also develops unique programs and initiatives designed to educate and facilitate collaboration between partners and benefactors that align with its mission. Learn more at https://www.walterkaitz.org.