Joel Katz, Susan Eisenhower, and Judge Leah Ward Sears (Ret.) Recognized for Fostering Virtues of Peace and Justice

Joel Katz, Susan Eisenhower, and Judge Leah Ward Sears (Ret.) Recognized for Fostering Virtues of Peace and Justice

First Annual Middelthon-Candler Millennium Gate, Peace, and Justice Prizes

ATLANTA, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Joel Katz, Susan Eisenhower, and Judge Leah Ward Sears (Ret.) will receive the first annual Middelthon-Candler Millennium Gate, Peace, and Justice Prizes, awarded to individuals who have fostered virtues of peace and justice. The awards ceremony, presented by The National Monuments Foundation, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 7:00 p.m. to midnight at The Millennium Gate Museum.

"We have inherited greatness and it is our mission to continue this greatness," said Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., president of The Millennium Gate Museum and The National Monuments Foundation. "The National Monuments Foundation regards the city of Atlanta as a unique American place to hold these events."

Matthew Middelthon has established these prizes, continuing the Candler family's great tradition of extraordinary stewardship of Atlanta's arts, charitable and civic institutions, and patronage of The Millennium Gate.

7C's Productions film company is participating as a Frederick Law Olmstead Patron, and Michael Todd Chrisley, owner and founder of 7C's said, "It is with great pride that we support this inaugural event, and acknowledge the prize recipients for their efforts in fostering the virtues of peace and justice, as well as the values of greatness that make our nation and the world a better place to live."

Joel Katz, former Chairman of the American Bar Association's Entertainment & Sports Law Section and widely recognized as a leader in the field of entertainment law, has been named The Millennium Gate Prize recipient. He built his legacy representing some of the world's most well-known entertainers, music producers, record companies, concert promoters, and Fortune 500 companies. More than 30 years ago, Joel founded Katz, Smith & Cohen, which became one of the country's largest music entertainment law firms. In 1998, Katz merged his practice with Greenberg Traurig.

Susan Eisenhower has been named the Peace Prize recipient, in recognition of her years of diplomacy on behalf of the United States. She has been involved in our country's defense negotiations in Eastern Europe and Russia for nearly 25 years. As president of The Eisenhower Institute, she was among the first to open the Iron Curtain through a series of musical and literary cultural exchanges, and currently serves on the board of the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

Georgia Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears (Ret.) has been named the Justice Prize recipient, and is the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and former Chair of the Judicial Council of Georgia. When sworn in on June 28, 2005, she became the first African-American female Chief Justice in the U.S., and when she was appointed justice in 1992, she was the first woman and the youngest person to sit on the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Proceeds raised from the evening will facilitate the museum's mission to preserve and interpret Georgia's history, architecture, culture and philanthropic heritage, as well as highlight Georgia's historical and aesthetic relevance to the United States and the world. The evening will feature a wine and cocktail reception, a seated dinner by Gloriosa, the prize ceremony and music by US Beat. Those attending the event will also have the opportunity to enjoy the museum in an elegant, after-hours setting, and to view the visiting exhibition, Transcending Vision: American Impressionism 1870-1940. The exhibit has been on loan from Bank of America through its Arts in Our Communities® program.

The National Monuments Foundation Board of Directors: Rodney M. Cook, Jr., Lou Glenn, Cullen Hammond, Rawson Haverty, Jr., Pamela Rollins, Sally Singletary, Robert Tolleson, and Arol Wolford.

Honorary Board of Directors: Colin Amery, Tommy Bagwell, Richard H. Driehaus, Susan Eisenhower, Tom Glenn, Priscilla Roosevelt, Lovette Russell, Remar Sutton, Carolyn Lee Wills and Tom Wolfe.

Advisory Board: Joel Babbit, The Honorable Roy Barnes, Keven Lake, Eric Tanenblatt.

Middelthon-Candler Prizes Co-Chairman: Karen Spiegel and Gail O'Neill Viera.

Host Committee: Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Adair, Joel Babbit, Asa G. Candler VI, Jim Jacoby, Mike Luckovich, Marianne Michaelis, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Middelthon, Dudley Ottley, Milo Pickney, Robert Strickland, Luther Randall III, Dorothy Megel and Zana Sabre, John Spiegel, Eric Swartz, Eric Tanenblatt, Jimmy Warren, Stephen Weizenecker, and Arol Wolford.

THE MILLENNIUM GATE MUSEUM

The Millennium Gate's mission is to preserve and interpret Georgia history, architecture, culture and philanthropic heritage as well as highlight Georgia's historical and aesthetic relevance to the United States and to the world. The Millennium Gate is a 101-foot classically-styled monumental arch located inside Atlantic Station in Midtown Atlanta. People are drawn to the arch not only for its beauty, but also by its setting at the edge of a new park against a 3 acre lake. The Gate is designed in the tradition of classical Roman triumphal arches that have been built around the world over the past 2,500 years. The Gate houses a 12,000 square foot museum that narrates Georgia's and Atlanta's history through interactive technology, film, and exhibitions. It is the largest public monument to be built since the construction of the Jefferson Memorial. For more information, visit www.thegateatlanta.com.

THE NATIONAL MONUMENTS FOUNDATION

Founded in 2001 by Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., this organization seeks to build monuments which will uplift the communities in which they are built through a classical approach to urban design. It is comprised of individuals who are committed to the mission of creating self-sustaining destination landmarks which benefit the citizens of the United States. For more information, visit www.thenmf.org.

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Source: 7C's Productions

CONTACT: Pat Harriman of The Harriman Group, +1-949-370-2075,
pat@harrimangroup.com, for 7C's Productions

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Profile: International Entertainment