Bill McCreary Set to present awards at 1st Foster Care Children's Award

Mel Brown & Barbara Brown (Brothers & Sister Productions) presents 1st Foster Care Children's Award/ Bill McCreary set to present awards at 1st Foster Care Children's Award

Phil Andrews Public Relations Director
Email: cbbookspr@aol.com

Bill McCreary Set to present awards at 1st Foster Care Children's Care Awards

On October 25, 2003 Bill McCreary will be presenting Awards to honorees at the 1st Foster Care Children's Award. Emmy Award-winning journalist BILL MCCREARY is a former vice-president of Fox Television station WNYW-TV (Channel 5 in New York). A graduate of Baruch College, he began his career in 1960 as a staff announcer and engineer for radio station WWRL in Queens. In 1963 he joined Radio Station WLIB as a general assignment reporter. After one year he was promoted to News Director. As news director at radio station WLIB, he produced several documentaries on the civil rights movement and interviewed such advocates as Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X. In 1967 he joined Metro Media Broadcasting an a general assignment Reporter.

In 1968 McCreary conducted a highly acclaimed special weekend seminar at Syracuse University regarding race and politics in America. In 1970, he became the anchor and managing editor of "Black News" at Metro Media. Bill McCreary was promoted to co-anchor of "The 10 O'clock News" in 1971. In 1987, McCreary was promoted to a vice President for Fox Television and given his own show (McCreary Report), where he was anchor and executive producer.

Bill McCreary has received numerous awards and citations for his work as a newscaster and for his outstanding contributions to the African-American community.

Recognition of his accomplishments by civic leaders and his peers include:

Two Emmy Awards -- one for the "The 10 O'clock News" and one for "Black News;"
An Emmy Award nomination for the documentary "Following the Footsteps;"
The Daily News Front Page Award for outstanding achievement in "reporting events and issues concerning the Metropolitan area and the minority community in particular;"
The NAACP's "Black Heritage Award" in 1987;
Borough President David Dinkins' declaration of April 23, 1987, as "Bill McCreary Day" in New York City;
An award from the Food and Drug Administration for a series of reports on the dangers of consuming "Argo Starch;"
The Floyd Flake Image Award in October, 1990;
The Mackee Williams Memorial Award in September, 1990;
The Federation of Negro Civil Service Organizations, Inc. Distinguished Service Award; and A Myopia International Research Foundation citation for helping to improve public health standards.

On October 25, 2003 foster care advocates Mel Brown and Barbara Brown (Brother & Sister Production) will be presenting the 1st Foster Care Children's Award Dinner at the world famous Cotton Club located at 56 West 125th Street, between Broadway and Riverside Drive, Harlem, New York. Mel Brown and Barbara Brown were raised in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn. Mel and Barbara come from a family of six siblings.

At the early age of five Mel and Barbara along with their other siblings lived in a variety of different foster care homes. The family was spilt at an early age, two boys were sent to one foster home, and two girls were sent to another home. Our grandmother raised our other sibling. The last foster care home that Mel Brown and Barbara Brown were raised in decided to take four of us into their foster home in an effort to bring stabilization into our lives. The last foster care home was unique in that it provided discipline, family values, religious training, and good old-fashioned guidance.

Mel and Barbara are true American success stories. Their rise from foster care to success in America is truly an inspiration to every American Family. Mel Brown rose from foster care to become involved in the Mortgage Banking business, Founder & CEO People First Limousine, member Screen Actors Guild, Independent Film Producer, Cable TV Show host, Founder & CEO People First Management (a talent management agency), and is currently the Vice President of membership for the National African American Speakers Association. Barbara Brown has also achieved notable success as a member of the Screen Actors Guild, Cable TV Show host, President of People First Management, President of Brother & Sister Production member National African American Speakers Association, and as a partner in Brother in Sister Productions. They are both members of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York.

Mel & Barbara have been active members of the Harlem community for well over twenty years. They conducted a "grassroots telethon" called "We are winners" in a fundraising drive in Harlem to raise money for the National Black Institute of Communication and Theatre Arts which is operated by the National Black Theatre to train adults and children in the area of theatrical training. A little over two-and-a-half million dollars was the target to raise for the theatre in 1985, not bad for a pair of foster kids.

Mel Brown and Barbara Brown's goal is to create the 1st National Foster Care TV show that truly caters to the needs of foster care families across America. The 1st Annual Foster Care Awards is a Formal Black Tie Dinner with a 16-piece orchestra starring " The Cotton Club All Stars". This year's successful foster care family is "The Brown Family". The 1st Foster Care Children's Award will provide super star studded guest, entertainment with upcoming superstars, The Hard Bargain Band, progress awards, upcoming motivational award (Phil Andrews C & B Books Distribution Center Public Relations Director (www.cbbooksdistribution.com) / Member 100 Black Men of Long Island, and showing The Family New Film starring Akeem Smith from the famous Carl Thomas Video (I Wish) & Shawn Nelson from the HBO special (The Corner).

Mel Brown recently attended the Little Flowers Children's services of New York benefit at the West Hampton Country Club along with "All My Children" star Susan Lucci, Father Flannagan, Channel 4 news anchor Jane Hanson. A portion of the proceeds will be used as seed money to establish a 501-C-3 non-for-profit foundation for foster care. To request more information or make reservations for the upcoming 1st Annual Foster Care Awards you may contact People First Management at 1.718.405.6042 or email Mel Brown at Mel@peoplefirstmgmt.com. Reserve Early.