Jackie Robinson Foundation to Honor John D. Finnegan, Rita Moreno, and Paul Tagliabue at Annual Awards Dinner

Annual Awards Dinner Scheduled for Monday, March 5, 2012 at Waldorf=Astoria

Legendary Entertainer Bill Cosby to Once Again Host Star Studded Gala for Nation's Premiere Minority Scholarship and Mentoring Program Martin L. Edelman, Esq., Of Counsel to Paul Hastings will serve as Event Chair

En Vogue to perform

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) announced the recipients of the 2012 ROBIE Awards, which will be presented at its Annual Awards Dinner on Monday, March 5 at 6:30pm at New York's Waldorf=Astoria Hotel. Hosted by legendary entertainer Bill Cosby, the iconic event pays tribute to individuals who embody the humanitarian ideals of Jackie Robinson and raises funds for the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The Foundation provides generous, four-year college scholarships, graduate school grants, and extensive mentoring to academically-distinguished minority students with financial need and leadership capacity.

Once again this year, the star-studded event promises to be an unforgettable evening as the Foundation honors three true philanthropists. The ROBIE Achievement in Industry Award will be presented to Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Chubb Corporation John D. Finnegan. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Legendary Performing Artist Rita Moreno. The ROBIE Humanitarian Award will be presented to Former NFL Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Directors of Georgetown University Paul Tagliabue. Martin L. Edelman, Esq., Of Counsel to Paul Hastings LLP will serve as event chair. The evening will also include a musical performance by the multi-platinum, female R&B vocal group En Vogue accompanied by the Ray Chew Band featuring Onree Gill.

"Each of our honorees this year has had an indelible impact on society as a whole. Their blueprint for success is undergirded by both their commitment to inclusion and helping others and their adherence to the fundamental values of integrity, courage and compassion," observed Jackie Robinson Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Della Britton Baeza. "These are among the values that the Foundation seeks to impart to the young people whom we serve in our mission to address the achievement gap in higher education. We are proud to introduce this year's honorees as role models to our Scholars."

Over the past three decades, the JRF Annual Awards Dinner has recognized some of the most important names in business, politics, education, media, sports, and the arts, including Desmond Tutu; Henry Silverman; Marian Wright Edelman; Joseph Perella; Robin Roberts; Michael Jordan; Paul Polman; Dr. Benjamin Carson, Sr.; Sheila C. Johnson; Joseph Plumeri; Johnnetta B. Cole; Allan H. (Bud) Selig; Arthur Ashe; Tom Brokaw; Ella Fitzgerald; Spike Lee; Clive Davis; Henry L. "Hank" Aaron; Sean "Diddy" Combs; George Lucas; J. W. Marriott, Jr.; Robert Redford; Ruth J. Simmons; and John "Jack" Welch, Jr.

2012 Honorees:

John D. Finnegan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Chubb Corporation, will be honored for outstanding contributions to the financial services community and his enduring commitment to expanding career opportunities for women and minorities.

Rita Moreno, Legendary Performing Artist, will be saluted for her trailblazing career in the entertainment industry as well as her courageous efforts to bring awareness to heart disease, diabetes, and a variety of women's health issues.

Paul Tagliabue, Former Commissioner, National Football League, and Chairman, Board of Directors, Georgetown University, will be recognized for his exceptional commitment to diversity and inclusion and the pursuit of higher education and his extraordinary contributions to the National Football League, the law firm of Covington & Burling, and numerous non-profit organizations.

About the Jackie Robinson Foundation:

Established in 1973, the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) is the nation's premier education and leadership development program. Transcending financial assistance, the Foundation equips its scholarship recipients with a comprehensive set of support services including internship placement, career guidance, and practical life skills, resulting in a nearly 100% graduation rate, more than twice the national average for minority students. The over 1,400 JRF alumni are both leaders in their professional fields and consummate ambassadors of Jackie Robinson's legacy of community service.

This 2011-2012 academic year, JRF is providing generous financial aid and program support to 208 Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars representing 31 states and the District of Columbia and enrolled in 90 different colleges and universities across the country.

Event sponsors for the Awards Dinner include the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, the Omnicom Group, Major League Baseball, The Coca-Cola Company, Credit Suisse AG, Fisher Brothers, The Ford Motor Company Fund, The Foundation for Global Sports Development, General Electric Company, New Era Cap Co., Nike, Paul Hastings LLP, Praxair and American Airlines. For sponsorship opportunities, tickets or additional information regarding the Awards Dinner, please visit http://www.cvent.com/d/scq8c0 or contact the Foundation at (212) 290-8600.

Individual tickets are available for $1,500 with tables and sponsorships ranging from $15,000 to $100,000. Advertising opportunities are available in the commemorative Awards Dinner journal for $5,000.

For more information about JRF, visit http://www.jackierobinson.org.

Media Contact:
The Jackie Robinson Foundation
Valaida Wynn Guerrero
[email protected], 212-290-8600

SOURCE The Jackie Robinson Foundation