George Lopez to Receive 2011 ADCOLOR All-Star Award at Fifth Annual ADCOLOR Awards and Industry Conference in Los Angeles, September 16th and 17th

NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrated comedian, actor and philanthropist George Lopez will join an illustrious group of industry innovators when he receives the 2011 ADCOLOR All-Star Award, presented by the ADCOLOR Industry Coalition and Omnicom Group in recognition of his work as a philanthropist and pioneer in the entertainment industry.  As the advertising industry's premier event celebrating diversity and the contributions of some of the industry's brightest stars, the 2011 ADCOLOR® Awards and Industry Conference will be held in Los Angeles at the legendary Beverly Hilton on September 16th and 17th.  Past honorees include television host Cristina Saralegui, activist, entrepreneur and "Father of Hip-Hop," Russell Simmons, businessman and former NBA champion Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Queen Latifah, multi-platinum recording artist and award-winning actress.  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110829/NY59344LOGO )

Also among the other notable figures joining Mr. Lopez in the 2011 class of ADCOLOR Honorees are filmmaker Spike Lee, CEO, SpikeDDB and Dan Wieden, Co-Founder & CEO, Wieden + Kennedy who will both receive the Catalyst Award for their work as advertising agency pioneers.  For the first time, GLAAD (the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) will present an ADCOLOR Advocate Award in recognition of industry influencers from the LGBT community.  The 2011 Advocate Award will be presented to two industry pioneers – Laurence Boschetto, president and CEO of Draftfcb and Aaron Walton, Co-Founder, Walton | Isaacson.

"The ADCOLOR Industry Coalition is proud to honor George Lopez for his body of work as a comedian, actor and television host and we are equally proud to recognize him for his work as a philanthropist whose foundation works to help transform the lives of those in need," says Tiffany R. Warren, Founder of The ADCOLOR Industry Coalition and The ADCOLOR Awards and Industry Conference and senior vice president, chief diversity officer for Omnicom Group Inc.

Hundreds of the most talented influencers, tastemakers and rising stars are expected to attend the two-day event, which is supported by a roster of corporate sponsors and leaders who embrace and understand the importance of diversity in advertising and the power of an increasingly diverse consumer population.  

The 2011 ADCOLOR Awards & Industry Conference is presented by The ADCOLOR Industry Coalition and sponsored by ameredia, inc., American Advertising Federation, 4A's, The Advertising Club of NY, Akande Music + Publishing, Arnold Worldwide, Creative Artists Agency, CNN, Deutsch, DIAGEO, Draftfcb, Google, Grab Network, GTM, Inc., Iced Media, Interpublic Group, Omnicom Group, The One Club, McCann Worldgroup, Microsoft Advertising, Pepsi, Publicis USA, RAPP, The Results Driven Agency, Ruder Finn Multicultural & Image Marketing, SBS Studios LLC, Sonicbids.com, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Time Warner and Wieden + Kennedy.  Highlights of the 2011 event include a special presentation by CNN's Soledad O'Brien and a performance by NBC's "Sing Off" Season Two Winners, Committed.  

About George Lopez

George Lopez is a multi-talented entertainer whose career encompasses television, film, standup comedy and late-night television.  For two seasons, Lopez hosted Lopez Tonight, a late-night television talk show on TBS, which represented Lopez's return to series television after co-creating, writing, producing and starring in Warner Bros. Television's groundbreaking hit sitcom George Lopez, which ran for six seasons on ABC.  George Lopez remains a hit with viewers in syndication on both broadcast stations and cable's Nick at Nite, ranking as one of the top-rated shows on the network and among the top five comedies and top 20 weekly programs in syndication.  George Lopez is one of only four off-net comedies to post weekly ratings gains among households from the 2007–08 to 2008–09 season.  Lopez has risen to become one of the premier comedic talents in the entertainment industry.  He has been praised by audiences and critics alike for his work in television, film and standup, as well as his extensive charity work with various foundations. 

Lopez recently voiced the character Rafael in the animated blockbuster, Rio, along with Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, and Jesse Eisenberg, and "Grouchy Smurf" in The Smurfs. His other most recent film credits include the box-office hit Valentine's Day, directed by Garry Marshall; Beverly Hills Chihuahua; Swing Vote; Henry Poole Is Here; and Balls of Fury.   

In August 2009, Lopez filmed his second HBO Comedy Special, Tall, Dark and Chicano.  He headlined his first HBO Comedy Special, America's Mexican, in 2007.  Lopez has also performed as part of HBO and TBS's Comic Relief 2006.  His acclaimed comedy concert, Why You Crying?, debuted on Showtime in 2004.  Lopez released his third standup CD, El Mas Chingon, in 2006, earning a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Comedy Album.  Prior to that, in 2004, he was nominated for a Grammy in the same category for his CD Team Leader.  In May 2004, his autobiography, Why You Crying?, entered The New York Times Bestsellers Top 20.  The book was co-written by Emmy®-winning writer and sportscaster Armen Keteyian.   Lopez also was the focus of the award-winning documentary Brown is the New Green: George Lopez and the American Dream.

In 2006, Lopez received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  In addition, Time magazine named him one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America, and the Harris Poll named him one of the Top Ten Favorite Television Personalities.  Lopez has made more than 200 television comedy, talk show and hosting appearances, including co-hosting the Emmy Awards and twice hosting the Latin Grammys.  In 2001, Lopez hosted a major morning radio show in Los Angeles, becoming the first Latino to headline the key morning slot on an English-language station in one of the nation's top radio markets.

Lopez has received the Manny Mota Foundation Community Spirit Award and was named Honorary Mayor of Los Angeles for his extensive fundraising efforts benefiting earthquake victims in El Salvador and Guatemala.  Other honors include an Imagen Vision Award, the Latino Spirit Award and the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Award.  The Lopez Foundation, founded by George, was established to create positive, permanent change for underprivileged children and adults confronting challenges in education and health, as well as increasing community awareness about kidney disease, organ donation, and the military.

About the ADCOLOR Industry Coalition

The ADCOLOR Industry Coalition is a 501(c)(6) organization that was founded in 2005. The AIC seeks to support and inspire professionals of color and diversity champions within the advertising, marketing and media industries by celebrating the accomplishments of diverse role models and industry leaders. The ADCOLOR Awards and Industry Conference is the signature event presented annually by the Advertising Industry Coalition.  As its first initiative, The ADCOLOR Industry Coalition launched the ADCOLOR Awards in 2007 to promote increased diversity in the advertising, marketing and media industries.

For all ADCOLOR® Awards & Industry Conference information and to register, please visit ADCOLOR's microsite, designed by SBS Studios LLC, at www.adcolor.org.

The 2011 ADCOLOR Award honorees are:

The All-Star Award presented by Omnicom Group
George Lopez – Comedian and Actor

The Lifetime Achievement Awards presented by Pepsi & The American Advertising Federation*
Earl G. Graves, Sr., Chairman, Founder & Publisher – Black Enterprise
Eduardo Caballero, Founder – Caballero Radio & Television
* Presented to the 2011 American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame Inductees

The Legend Awards presented by Diageo
Esther Franklin, EVP, Director of Cultural Identities – Starcom MediaVest Group
Aldo Quevedo, President & Chief Creative Officer – Dieste
Mauricio Sabogal, President, World Markets – Initiative and UM

The Rising Star Awards presented by Google
Kenji Summers, Community Manager – BBH ZAG
Sarah Torres, Multicultural Sales Planner – CNN
Zoe Bell, Copywriter – Publicis NY

The Innovator Awards presented by Microsoft Advertising
Jacqueline Hernandez, Chief Operating Officer, Telemundo – NBCUniversal
Eric Harris, President & Co-Founder – Sixth Floor Developers

The Change Agent Awards presented by The Home Depot
Lincoln Stephens, Program Director & Co-Founder – The Marcus Graham Project
Pawan Mehra, Co- Founder & Principal – Ameredia
Felicia Geiger, VP, Director of Diversity & Inclusion – Deutsch, Inc.

The One Club | ADCOLOR Creative Awards presented by The One Club & Publicis USA
Keith Cartwright, Creative Chairman, Managing Director, West Studios
Donna Lamar, Creative Director – TBWA/Chiat/Day Los Angeles

The Advocate Awards presented by GLAAD
Aaron Walton, Co-Founder – Walton & Isaacson
Laurence Boschetto, President & CEO – Draftfcb

The Catalyst Awards presented by The ADCOLOR® Industry Coalition
Spike Lee, Chief Executive Officer – SpikeDDB
Dan Wieden, Co-Founder & CEO – Wieden + Kennedy

The MVP (Most Valuable Partnership) Award presented by CNN
Saatchi & Saatchi and Streetlights

Media Contact:
Helen Shelton
Ruder Finn, Inc.
212.593.6443
[email protected]

SOURCE ADCOLOR Industry Coalition