Panthera Awards

Stuttering Foundation spokesman and conservationist Alan Rabinowitz, actress Glenn Close, and former Assistant Secretary of State Claudia McMurray were on hand for the annual Panthera Conservation Advisory Committee reception in honor of Carlos Manuel Rodriquez of Costa Rica whose visionary policies helped secure crucial habitat for jaguars.

Also in attendance to applaud this exciting award were Stuttering Foundation President Jane Fraser and Vice President Joe Fulcher.

Mr. Rodriquez, who advises governments worldwide on adapting his groundbreaking strategy of payments for ecosystem services, was the 2009 recipient of the Rabinowitz-Kaplan Prize for Excellence in Cat Conservation.

Stories from Panthera's scientists, researchers and partners to document their favorite encounters with big cats in the wild, known as 'Cat Tales,' were on display throughout the reception hall. Award winning photographer Steve Winter, author Luke Hunter, and conservationist Andrea Heydlauf shared their stories with guests.

Panthera and the Stuttering Foundation share a common goal ' to always work hard to set the bar ever higher for excellence in our respective fields. As a result, Panthera continues to develop and implement conservation strategies for the world's most imperiled wild cats, and the Stuttering Foundation works to promote excellence in research and to provide resources, services and support to those who stutter and their families.

CELEBRITY FOCUS

King George

In November 2010, worldwide movie audiences were presented with a most interesting and unusual movie release with The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth as King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter as his wife Elizabeth.

Unfortunately, history may have forgotten the courageous and inspiring story of Prince Albert who stuttered badly and never dreamed that he would ever be king when his older brother, King Edward VIII, abruptly abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.

Byron Pitts

Byron Pitts has brought much attention to stuttering with his memoir, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges, released in September, 2009. The book not only details his speech difficulties, but also his illiteracy until age 12 and his unstable family life. Pitts overcame the odds to become the chief national correspondent with ABC News.

Frank Wolf

This Virginian congressman has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1981. The longtime supporter of the Stuttering Foundation drew national attention to childhood stuttering in 2006 when he submitted an article about Tiger Woods from the SFA newsletter to the Congressional Record. The congressman is featured in the Stuttering Foundation's Famous People Who Stutter brochure.

Jack Paar

While Jack Paar is among the most prominent of the entertainers on the Stuttering Foundation’s list of Famous People Who Stutter, he deserves special recognition as he was among the first to openly address his stuttering in public. As host of The Tonight Show from 1957-1962, he spoke of his difficulties as a stuttering child and teenager, giving hope to young people.

John Stossel

John Stossel is one of the most recognized and articulate reporters today. However, he once considered giving up his broadcasting career because of his stuttering.

“Fear of stuttering can easily become worse than the stuttering itself,” observed Stossel. “The idea that I’m on television and making speeches is still a shock to me sometimes.”