The 2008 Visionary Awards

Honoring Champions of Economic Empowerment

On Thursday, October 30th, 2008, the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE), led by Craig Donohue, CEO of the CME Group, Inc. and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NCEE, will hold their third-annual Visionary Awards dinner at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City.

The dinner brings together leaders in business, media, public service, and education to honor champions of economic empowerment in all of its many forms, from those who have raised awareness about the need for economic and financial literacy, to those who, having succeeded in their chosen field by using sound economic decision-making, have turned that success into good public works.

Honorees to date for the evening include:

• John W. Rogers, Jr., Founder, Chairman, CEO & Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments, one of the largest African-American owned investment firms in the country, and creator of the first two mutual funds in the United States managed by African-Americans; and co-founder of the acclaimed Ariel Community Academy; and
• Mary L. Schapiro, CEO of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the largest non-governmental regulator for all securities firms doing business with the U.S. public; former Chairman of the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and former Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
• Julie Stav, Co-Founder of Tu Dinero, the nation's first Spanish-language personal finance magazine for U.S. Hispanics, and media personality empowering ordinary people with the skills to manage their personal financial planning through her popular radio and television programs, books, DVD’s and interactive Web site.
• And the Corporate Visionary Award will be presented to:
  The Verizon Corporate Foundation, accepted by Doreen Toben, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Verizon Communications.

"Each year at the Visionary Awards we highlight remarkable individuals and corporations who advocate the importance of economic literacy and education through their lives and work," said Bob Duvall, President & CEO of the NCEE. "In honoring John Rogers, Mary Schapiro, Julie Stav, and the Verizon Corporate Foundation we give richly-deserved recognition to people and companies whose work demonstrates why knowledge of finance and economics matters."

Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the dinner at 7:30 p.m. Craig Donohue is event chair, and the Mistress of Ceremonies will be Sharon Epperson, CNBC Business Correspondent. For more information on how to sponsor or attend this event, please review the information below:

Sponsorship Levels for 2008 NCEE Visionary Awards Dinner:

Platinum: $50,000 includes – Two prime table placements for 20 guests (10 guests per table); host recognition of the cocktail reception; prominent listing of corporate logo and name placement on signage at the event and on all event materials; a half page program advertisement; and an opportunity for photos with honorees and special guests.

Gold: $25,000 includes – Prime table placement for 10 guests; corporate logo and name placement on all event materials; a quarter page program advertisement; and an opportunity for photos with honorees and special guests.

Silver: $10,000 includes – Preferred table placement for 10 guests; corporate logo and name placement on all event materials.

Full Page Program Advertisement: $5,000

Half Page Program Advertisement: $2,500

A limited number of individual tickets ($1,000) are available on a first come, first-served basis. For further event information, please contact Renee Colombo at (212) 730-5658 or via email: rcolombo@ncee.net. For more information about the NCEE and its programs, please visit our website at www.ncee.net.