THE ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN IN MEDIA FOUNDATION TAPS
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS TO HOST
THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY GRACIES AWARDS
The Annual Gala will take place on Tuesday, May 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel
Los Angeles, CA, March 13, 2015 –The Alliance for Women in Media announced today that Black-ish star Tracee
Ellis Ross will host the 40th Anniversary Gracies Awards. This year’s 40th Anniversary Gracies Awards gala, in
support of the AWMF’s many educational programs, charitable activities, public service and scholarship campaigns
that benefit women in media, is being held on Tuesday, May 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The evening will
celebrate the achievements of some of the industry’s most exceptional women including Julia Roberts, Maggie
Gyllenhaal, Olivia Munn, and Mae Whitman, among many others.
―I am honored to act as host of the 40th anniversary of the Gracies Awards. As women in media and entertainment—
we’re fortunate to have a platform that allows us to use our voices in a powerful way,‖ said Tracee Ellis Ross stated.
―My hope is that we continue to find opportunities in our lives to inspire each other and create monumental change in
the world through our collective experiences, wisdom and insight.‖
Kristen Welch, Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Chair, said in making the announcement, ―We are
thrilled to work with one of the most iconic females in the entertainment industry to create a hilarious and magical
night. Ross’ lively presence and rich background mirrors the exact essence of what these awards represent, and
personifies this iconic year of the Gracies Awards. She represents the positive growth of women in media.‖
Karla Ballard, Co-Chair Gracies Award Show and SVP of Participant Media, ―This is not the Gracies of
yesterday. We are the Gracies of the future; that is how we see our honorees, host and one another. The 40th
anniversary falls at a time where audiences are hungry for inclusiveness, and we are humbled to bring together a
community that celebrates our commonalities and passion for storytelling through the media.‖
The evening will showcase the strides women have made in media throughout the past 40 years and celebrate the
bold new trails women are blazing for tomorrow. (Please see attached for a list of national and interactive media
winners. The winners for local, non-profit and student Gracies will be awarded at the luncheon):
ABOUT TRACEE ELLIS ROSS
Tracee Ellis Ross is the star of the new hit ABC comedy series ―Black-ish‖. For her role, Ross recently won the 2015
NAACP Image Award for ―Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series‖. Ross is best known for starring on the hit sitcom
―Girlfriends‖ which ran for eight seasons on the UPN/CW network and garnered her eight NAACP Image Award
nominations including two wins in the category of ―Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series‖. Other credits include
turns in ―Love, Loss, and What I Wore‖ on stage in New York and LA; guest starring roles on ABC's ―Private
Practice,‖ CBS' hit crime drama ―CSI," and HBO's ―LIFE Support‖ with Queen Latifah; and feature films "Hanging Up"
with Jennifer Connelly and Marcia Gay Harden, and Tyler Perry's "Daddy's Little Girls". Outside of her film and
television work, Ross is a dedicated and passionate motivational speaker who also boldly utilizes her digital platforms
to engage the next generation of women. Through her social media and her official website (Traceeellisross.com),
Ross inspires the soul, body and mind of her followers.
ABOUT THE GRACIES AWARDS
The Gracie Awards, established in 1975, honor outstanding programming by, for and about women and individuals of
the highest caliber in all facets of radio, television, cable and web-based media including: news, drama, comedy,
public service, documentary and sports. National and digital winners will be honored at the 40th Gracies Awards Gala,
May 19, 2015 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Local, public and student winners in radio and TV will be honored at the
Gracies Awards Luncheon, June 22, 2015 in New York. For information about how to reserve a table, please contact
AWMF at (202)750-3664. For updates on the awards ceremony and luncheon, please visit www.thegracies.org. For
the latest information, please follow the Gracies Awards on Facebook: The Gracies and Twitter: @TheGracies.
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Sunshine Sachs
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