35th Anniversary Dinner to Celebrate "Diversity Through the Decades"

Josh Sapan and Dave Watson to lead fundraising efforts

Each fall, The Walter Kaitz Foundation's Annual Fundraising Dinner brings together leaders from across the media and telecommunications industries to build significant support for the advancement of diversity and inclusion within our industry. This year's milestone 35th Anniversary Kaitz Dinner will take place on Wednesday, October 17, at New York's Marriott Marquis, under the theme "Diversity Through the Decades."

The Walter Kaitz Foundation was founded in 1981 with the first fundraising dinner held in 1984 and featured some of the industry's most senior executives spearheading the Foundation's efforts. This year's 35th Anniversary Dinner is being spearheaded by a distinguished committee of industry visionaries co-chaired by Josh Sapan, President & CEO, AMC Networks and Dave Watson, President & CEO, Comcast Cable and Senior EVP, Comcast Corporation. The dinner committee includes Dexter Goei, CEO, Altice N.V. and Chairman & CEO, Altice USA; David Nevins, President & CEO, Showtime Networks Inc.; Michael K. Powell, President & CEO, NCTA - The Internet & Television Association and Tom Rutledge, Chairman & CEO, Charter Communications. Just as industry leaders before them, these leading executives continue to support Walter Kaitz's vision that all things are possible if we work hard and have an equal chance and opportunity to achieve success.

At its inception, the Foundation worked ardently to attract Fellows, many of whom were accomplished in their own careers, to join the burgeoning cable television industry. As the Foundation evolved into a grant-making organization, the emphasis evolved to funding the important work of the industry's diversity organizations including, The Emma L. Bowen Foundation, the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) and Women in Cable & Telecommunications (WICT). These three organizations continue to focus primarily on internships, leadership development and mentoring for multi-ethnic professionals and women in the media and telecommunications industry. Each organization continues to blaze new trails for diversity and inclusion across the broad expanse of the industry and, through their innovative programs provide some of the best executive leadership programs, training and career opportunities in any industry.

We hope you will join us in New York City this Fall for Diversity Week as we continue the work begun more than three decades ago. The mission to embrace diversity and inclusion was clear at that time and continues to be more important than ever today. Sponsorships opportunities as well as tables and tickets are still available for purchase. For more information please visit our website at www.walterkaitz.org and follow the conversation on social media. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #KAITZ@35.


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