Detroit Public Television Honors Jerry Jung For His Community Leadership At “Premiere Night”

To honor four Southeastern Michigan community leaders and in celebration of the 2012 fall line-up, Detroit Public Television (DPTV) will host its 11th Annual Premiere Night gala on Thursday, Sept. 27. Held at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, the event will begin at 6 p.m. 

The 2012 award winners are as follows:

Dolores & George Riley Stewardship Award: Jerry Jung

With a passion and enthusiasm for the work and mission of DPTV, Jerry Jung of Birmingham will be honored with the Dolores & George Riley Stewardship Award. 

Jung’s deep commitment to conservation and environment originated his work with DPTV. His help securing financial support provided the groundwork for the development of Great Lakes Week, a groundbreaking initiative by DPTV providing education about and discussing the future of the Great Lakes, as well as a new documentary division at the station.

Previous years’ winners were Rosalie & Bruce Rosen (2011), Dr. Ronald Goldsberry (2010), William H. Smith (2009), Lois Shaevsky (2008), Edward Deeb (2007) and Dolores and George Riley, for whom the award is named (2006).

John W. Porter Leadership Award: Mariam C. Noland

Demonstrating outstanding leadership and a commitment to the vitality of Detroit Public Television and Southeastern Michigan, Mariam Noland of Grosse Pointe Farms will be honored with the John W. Porter Leadership Award. 

The first president of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM), under Noland’s leadership, CFSEM and DPTV partnered on the “Philanthropy Campaign” when the Michigan Tax Credit was phased out in 2011. The effort helped more than 170 nonprofits seek critical funding support.

Previous years’ winners were Richard E. Rassel (2011), Kimberly & Ken Whipple (2010), James B. Nicholson (2009), Barbara and Frederick Erb Family (2008), Susan Cooper (2007) and John W. Porter, for whom the award is named (2006).

Detroit Public Television Partnership Award: Hoda Succar

As a partner strengthening the community by consistently encouraging volunteerism and multi-cultural acceptance, Hoda Succar of Bloomfield Hills will be honored with the Detroit Public Television Partnership Award.

Chair of the Arab American Programming Initiative for DPTV, Succar was instrumental in establishing a vision and securing funds to develop the groundbreaking, 13-part series Arab American Stories. The series, which will air nationally on at least 27 PBS stations, explored the contributions of Arab Americans to their communities, professions and the world-at-large.

Previous years’ winners were Phil Power on behalf of The Center or Michigan in Ann Arbor (2011), University of Michigan-Dearborn (2010), DTE Energy (2009), MASCO Corporation (2008) and Ford Motor Company (2007).

Detroit Public Television Visionary Award: Nancy M. Schlichting

A visionary leader for Michigan in healthcare administration and community involvement, Nancy M. Schlichting of Detroit will be honored with the Detroit Public Television Visionary Award.

Schlichting, CEO of Henry Ford Health System (HFHS), is credited with leading the health care organization’s dramatic financial turnaround and award-winning patient safety, customer services and diversity initiatives. She is involved in a variety of national and regional Boards, including The Kresge Foundation, Walgreen Company, United Way of Southeastern Michigan and Detroit Economic Club.

Previous years’ winners were Allan Gilmour (2011), Carol Goss (2010), Edsel B. Ford II (2009) and Congressman John Dingell (2008). 

Premiere Night is DPTV’s signature fundraising event, which unveils the fully-loaded PBS fall season and a variety of new local DPTV productions. Widely regarded as one of the most anticipated fundraising events in Metro Detroit, guests of Premiere Night will enjoy an elegant evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, a live auction and the presentation of DPTV’s dedicated community leader awards. 

To purchase tickets, contact Jill Schubiner at 248-305-3737 or jschubiner@dptv.org. Patron tickets to Premiere Night are $250 each, and benefactor tickets are $400 each. Co-chairs for the 11th Annual Premiere Night are Pam & Todd Wyett and Allan Gilmour & Eric Jirgens.

Proceeds from Premiere Night support Detroit Public Television, which provides programs and online content that educate, entertain and in partnership with the community.

About Detroit Public Television

WTVS Detroit Public Television (DPTV) is the non-commercial, viewer supported PBS-member station watched by more than 1.5 million people in Detroit and Southeast Michigan and also available in another 2.4 million homes throughout Canada. Our vision is to educate, entertain and inspire – in partnership with the community.   

DPTV also manages WRCJ 90.9 FM, Detroit’s classical and jazz radio station, in collaboration with the license-holder, the Detroit Public Schools.  The radio station is located in the Detroit School of Arts.

DPTV is licensed to the Detroit Educational Television Foundation and governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees composed of approximately 40 members of the local, business, civic, and cultural communities.