61st Annual Christopher Awards to be Presented on April 15

NEW YORK, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- (http://www.myprgenie.com) -- The Christophers announced today that the 61st annual Christopher Awards ceremony will be held here on Thursday evening, April 15, 2010, at 320 Park Avenue, 35th floor. The Christopher Awards salute media that remind audiences and readers, young and old, of all faiths and of no particular faith, of their worth, individuality and power to make a difference and positively influence our world.

"The awards truly highlight our mission to point out what's good in popular culture," said Mary Ellen Robinson, vice president of The Christophers.

"For more than 60 years, we've been honoring the talented writers, producers, directors and illustrators whose work affirms the highest values of the human spirit, and we're thrilled to continue celebrating those achievements," added Judith Trojan, program manager of the Christopher Awards.

To date, more than 1,350 filmmakers, authors and illustrators have won Christopher Awards. Special Christopher Awards have also singled out such individual literary and media icons as David McCullough, Dave Brubeck, Elie Wiesel, Mary Higgins Clark, Carroll O'Connor, master puppeteer Caroll "Big Bird" Spinney, dance educator Jacques d'Amboise, and Children's Television Workshop creator Joan Ganz Cooney. Landmark TV programming, including "Sesame Street," "Masterpiece Theatre," "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," "American Masters," and "Face the Nation," has also been saluted by The Christophers during the past six decades.

"I keep my Christopher Life Achievement Award on a shelf in our library, right at eye level, because I'm immensely proud of it, but also in the hope that those who don't know what it is will ask," said author/historian David McCullough, who was recognized in 2008. "That gives me the chance to talk about the bedrock values The Christophers stand for and why having my work honored by them means the world to me."

The Christophers, a nonprofit organization founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. The ancient Chinese proverb - "It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness" - guides its publishing, radio, leadership and awards programs.

Visit www.christophers.org to learn more about The Christophers.

To see press release go to http://myprgenie.com/4688

SOURCE The Christophers