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Former Attorney General Janet Reno Among Those to Receive Buddy Awards at Upcoming Parkinson’s Benefit Gala WASHINGTON, DC -- APRIL 15, 2002 -- The Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area (PFNCA) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2002 Buddy Awards. The awards will be presented at the 2nd Annual Gala for Hope ~ Celebrating The Buddy Awards on Friday, April 19, 2002. The event, which is expected to attract more than 700 patrons, is being held again this year at the Ritz~Carlton, Tysons Corner. Sports owner and philanthropist, Abe Pollin, is this year’s Honorary Chair. Wendy Rieger, anchor for NBC NEWS4 Saturday and Sunday will emcee the event. With 20 years of experience in the Washington broadcast market, Rieger has reported for WTOP News Radio and CNN's Washington bureau. Her mother died recently after suffering from Parkinson's disease. The awardees are: Nina King, Wilbur McBay, John Robert Porter, and former Attorney General, Janet Reno. Nina King received a PhD in English and entered journalism starting as a copy editor on the night news desk at Newsday on Long Island. In 1979, she became Newsday’s book editor and in 1988 became editor of the Washington Post’s Book World where she worked for 14 years until retiring earlier this year. Wilber McBay is a self-made entrepreneur and visionary who has grown his business from his first 900 square foot specialty Ski Chalet store in Arlington, Virginia into a multi-business family corporation with over 300 employees at 5 Ski Chalet stores in the metro DC area and Richmond, patio furniture business, Any Mountain Travel And Tours, and a new distribution center. Wilbur McBay has served as President and CEO of Ski Chalet, Any Mountain Tours, and Patio Place, and his professional career has been marked with numerous. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1996. John Robert Porter is 68 years old and has lived in Washington for 40 years. He founded Earth Satellite Corporation in 1969 and served as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board until he sold the company earlier this year. In 1990, he and his wife, Lee, established the Porter Family Charitable Foundation which supports medical research, education, and particularly, programs benefiting the inner city’s poor and homeless. He first noticed symptoms of Parkinson’s disease after running a marathon in 1982. Janet Reno was the nation’s first female attorney general, Janet Reno, heading the world’s largest law office (125,000 employees) for nearly eight years. She was responsible for the enforcement of federal laws and for defending the government in court. During her watch, crime was dramatically reduced and heightened professionalism became the order of the day in the law enforcement community. The longest serving attorney general since before the civil war, A native daughter of South Florida, Ms. Reno graduated from Coral Gables High School, Cornell University, and Harvard Law School. Prior to her appointment as attorney general, she served for 15 years as the State’s Attorney for Dade County. Janet Reno continues to be involved with issues important to her, including advocacy for children, problem solving, law enforcement, and elder justice. She lives at the family’s home in South Florida and is hoping to see more of her country. She is currently running for Governor of the State of Florida. The proceeds from this event will be used to support cutting edge research that offers hope in finding the cause and cure for Parkinson's disease. Researchers receiving peer-reviewed grants will be on hand for the gala to briefly outline the research they will conducting. The Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area, a nonprofit organization serving the Washington, DC Metropolitan community, provides services and support for people with Parkinson’s disease to improve quality of life and supports research into the cause and cure for Parkinson’s disease. For more information on the 2nd Annual Gala for Hope ~ Celebrating The Buddy Awards or about the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area, please call: 703-356-2151. ### Event Details: 2nd Annual Gala for Hope Friday, April 19, 2002 7:00 pm Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction 8:30 pm Dinner & Program Grand Ballroom The Ritz~Carlton, Tysons Corner McLean, VA Contact: Michelle Zerihun Executive Director Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area 7531 Leesburg Pike, Suite 402 Falls Church, VA 22043-2120 Tel: 703-356-2151 Fax: 703-356-8963 Email: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn