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NEW YORK/NAIROBI,
22 OCTOBER 1999--The first ever WILD
Awards will be presented to four
companies and their advertising firms at a
luncheon ceremony hosted by
The United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) at UN Headquarters in
New York on Tuesday, October 26th at 8PM.
The WILD Foundation and UNEP have
established the awards to enhance
corporate consciousness, promote
responsible use of wildlife and
wilderness in advertising, and encourage
corporate philanthropy that
supports the conservation and
sustainability of the wild world.
The winners of the inaugural WILD Awards,
being honored in four
categories, are: Mutual of Omaha and its
ad agency Bozell Worldwide
receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award;
Nedbank of Africa with
agencies Ogilvy and Mather and The Hardy
Boys in the International
Excellence category; Canon U.S.A., inc.,
and its in-house agency
awarded for National Excellence; and
Georgia Power and ad firm Pollak,
Levitt & Nel, receiving the Regional
Excellence Award.
In addition to recognizing the excellence
of the private sector in
wildlife conservation, UNEP is also
turning to the artistic world of
Broadway for inspiration.
As part of the event, the Executive
Director of UNEP, Klaus Toepfer,
will announce that Jason Raize, "Simba" in
the original Broadway
version of "The Lion King" and recording
artist with Universal Records,
is being designated a UNEP Goodwill
Ambassador. Jason is being
honored "for his commitment and dedication
to furthering the cause of
the environment through the use of his
creative talents to inspire
respect for our natural heritage and to
promote the conservation and
sustainable use of the earth's resources."
Presenting the 1999 Wild Awards will be
wildlife expert Jim Fowler, and
the distinguished international
conservationist especially known for
his work in saving the white rhino from
extinction, Dr. Ian Player of
South Africa. Also participating will be
the Chairman of the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Ms. Magalen
O. Bryant.
Jason Raize will conclude the programme
with a song from "The Lion
King."
Note to
journalists: A
press conference will be held before the
luncheon, at 11 a.m. in Room
S-226, at the UN Secretariat Building.
Speakers will include Jim Fowler
and Jason Raize, along with
representatives of the four winners. For
more information, please contact Jim
Sniffen, UNEP Information Officer,
at (212) 963-8094/8210. For UN Media
Accreditation, please contact the
UN Media Accreditation and Liason Unit,
tel: (212) 963-7164, fax:
963-4642.
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