I have been hoping for some photos from this event before blogging it, but I haven’t managed to find any. I will update this entry if I manage to come across some! This Thursday, Geena was awarded the Crystal Eagle award by Coro; an organization aiming to train young veterans in the leadership skills necessary to assure that the democratic system of government could more effectively meet the needs of its citizens. From the Coro website:

The Coro Public Affairs Award is symbolized by a Crystal Eagle and is presented to those who exemplify excellence in effective leadership and dynamic community involvement. Their achievements demonstrate that, whether as an individual or on behalf of an organization, one can make a difference for the public good - a premise that lies at the very heart of Coro.

The other three recepients this year were Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Jack Steiny and Sheriff Lee Baca.

Hollywood.com offers a streaming video report from the USA Today Hollywood Hero Award event.

Sorry for the recent downtime and general problems with the site; we are moving servers and there has been a couple of problems with other clients’ scripts which have caused the the server to shut down. Hopefully things will settle over the next couple of days!

I have added a video from the Hollywood Hero Awards event in the multimedia section, I hope you enjoy!

B. Todi of Look To The Stars has a great article up from this week’s Hollywood Hero Awards, called Geena Davis, Role Model and Advocate for Our Children. In the article, we learn that the evening was hosted by Kevin Nealon and CinC co-star Natasha Henstridge, and that numerous of Geena’s co-stars and in other ways colleagues were there to praise her efforts. In Geena’s acceptance speech, she restated SeeJane’s mission statement: “By making it common for our youngest children to see everywhere a balance of active and complex male and female characters, girls and boys will grow up to empathize with and care more about each others’ stories”.

To read the complete article, please visit the Look To The Stars website.

Source: USA Today

From one of USA Today’s articles from last night’s Hollywood Hero Award gala, click the link above to read the whole article:

(Geena’s) personal heroes include Susan Sarandon, “a great mother and actor,” and her Tootsie co-star Dustin Hoffman, “who took me under his wing and was a mentor in every way.” Her childhood hero was her aunt Gloria. “She wore chic clothes, worked in Boston, drove a convertible and wore her hair in a French twist. She died when I was 18. So probably more than anyone I wish she were here tonight.”

Geena’s article is found under the “Feminist” section.

Thanks to Zosia of Natascha-McElhone.net there are several photos from yesterday’s Hollywood Hero Award event up in the gallery!

Add Women, Change History!

Last, year, Geena, along with Commander In Chief creator Rod Lurie, was the proud receiver of an EPIC Award for the contribution to the enhancement of the perception of women as leaders through pop culture. This year, Geena will be a presenter at the same event. EPIC 2007 will be held at The American Museum of Natural History, NYC, Wednesday, April 18th. Billie Jean King will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award; while Sheila Nevins, President of HBO Documentary Films will be recognized for conceiving of the EPIC Awards; Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck will be honored for “Shut Up & Sing” and KeKe Palmer and Nancy Hult Ganis will receive an award for their contribution to the production of “Akeelah and the Bee.” More at the White House Project website.

The Billie Awards recognize media excellence in women’s sports and physical activity. The event celebrates the positive portrayal of female athletes in the media. The Billies were held on April 11, 2007, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, Calif., and featured a performance by Sir Elton John. Also in attendance were 40 champion female athletes including Billie Jean King. Getty Images Editorial has quite a few HQ photos from the event. Here’s a sample (click for enlargement), more pictures in the gallery.

“Geena Davis, star of “A League of Their Own” charmed the crowd and paid tribute to King because “she bucked centuries of accepted practice” in her fight for equality in sports and society.” Read the full report at the Out in Hollywood blog, there is also an interesting article in the Daily News.