Washington Movers and Shakers to Put Aside Partisan Politics for Good Cause
NOFAS Awards Benefit to Honor Leaders Fighting Against Prenatal Alcohol Use
WHAT: The NOFAS 2004 Leadership Awards Benefit will be the culmination of a day's worth of events that will include a press conference announcing the launch of the Congressional Caucus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), the release of a new report called "Pregnant Women and Alcohol: The Continuing Epidemic" and the release of a framework for upcoming legislation to combat this problem. Established in 1994, the NOFAS Leadership Award is presented annually to prominent members of Congress, community leaders and other outstanding individuals in recognition of their commitment and leadership in the fight to prevent alcohol-related birth defects.
WHO: First Lady Laura Bush, Honorary Chairperson
Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card, Jr., and Reverend Kathleen Card, Honorary Hosts
Senator Tom Daschle and Linda Daschle, Honorary Hosts
Neal Baer, MD, Executive Producer of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Terry Lierman and Tony Podesta, Benefit Chairpersons
Sam Donaldson, Master of Ceremonies
2004 Honorees
NOFAS LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Senator Dan Inouye (D-HI): Advocate for the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians and American Indians who suffer disproportionately from FASD.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): Leading advocate for those living with FASD, proponent of a study on FASD by the Institute of Medicine and sponsor of a Senate resolution commemorating Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day on September 9 of every year.
Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN): Co-chairperson of the new Congressional Caucus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and long-time champion of substance abuse prevention.
Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ): Co-chairperson of the new Congressional Caucus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and long-time American Indian advocate.
NOFAS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation: Nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding people who by reason of poverty, disability, failing health or advanced age are unable to help themselves adequately.
Edward Riley, Ph.D., Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University: One of the nation's top researchers on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the brain and behavior.
WHEN: June 23, 2004, 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
WHERE: National Guard Association of the United States, One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
BACKGROUND: FASD is the leading known cause of mental retardation and birth defects. Every year, 40,000 babies are born with disorders related to prenatal drinking. This amounts to roughly one per every 100 births in the United States, making FASD more prevalent than Down Syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy combined. A single binge drinking episode has been linked to developmental delays. The annual direct and indirect costs of FASD are estimated at $5.4 billion. These defects are completely preventable, but trends in alcohol consumption by women of child-bearing age suggest the message is not getting across.
NOFAS is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 and dedicated to eliminating birth defects caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and to improving the quality of life for those individuals and families affected by FASD.
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