July 4 Deadline Nears for Nominations for 2008 Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards

Playboy Foundation seeks first winner of $25,000 Freedom of Expression Award 


CHICAGO, July 2  /PRNewswire/ -- With the July 4 deadline drawing near, the Playboy Foundation today issued a final call for public nominations for the 2008 Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards.

"We are seeking nominations of writers, librarians, lawyers, bloggers, activists, artists, students, teachers, filmmakers, cartoonists -- anyone who is working to promote and defend our precious First Amendment rights," said Christie Hefner, Chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

This year, the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards will include the new $25,000 Freedom of Expression Award, created to support an individual whose record of accomplishments indicates a promising future as an effective advocate for the First Amendment.  Preference will be given to emerging leaders whose work to protect and promote free speech in all its forms will be significantly supported by the cash grant. Each winner of the original Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards will receive $10,000.

Nominations will be submitted to a panel of distinguished judges: David M. Rubin, Dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University; Geoffrey Stone, Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor at University of Chicago Law School, and Nadine Strossen, President of the American Civil Liberties Union and Professor of Law at New York Law School.

Ms. Hefner created the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards in 1979 to honor individuals who have contributed significantly to the vital effort to protect and enhance First Amendment rights for Americans.  Since then, more than 125 valiant advocates for First Amendment freedoms have been recognized with the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards.  Historically, award winners have worked in journalism, education, book publishing, arts, entertainment, government and law.

The Playboy Foundation will accept nominations for the 2008 Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards, including the Freedom of Expression Award, through July 4.

To submit a nomination, or for more information, please contact the Playboy Foundation at 312-373-2435 or go to http://www.playboyenterprises.com/foundation.

The Playboy Foundation supports local and national nonprofit organizations that protect the rights of the individual in a free society.  Since its inception in 1965, the Foundation has awarded nearly $20 million in grants and in-kind contributions to organizations concerned with First Amendment freedoms, civil liberties and social justice. 

DATASOURCE: Playboy Foundation



CONTACT:  Matthew Pakula, Director of Playboy Foundation,

[phone]



Web Site:  http://www.playboyenterprises.com/foundation 

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