PHILADELPHIA : The Walnut Street Theatre announces that it will honor philanthropist and Board of Trustee Member Edward M. Satell alongside composer Tony Macaulay with the 2007 Edwin Forrest Award at its 198th Annual Gala. The gala will be held at the Benjamin Franklin House, 834 Chestnut Street, in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 21st at 6:00pm. This black tie event is held every year to honor a member of the business community and the artistic community with the Edwin Forrest Award for their contributions to American Theatre. The award was created in 1990 in honor of the leading American Actor of the nineteenth century, Edwin Forrest, a Philadelphia native who made his debut at the Walnut in 1820. This year's gala is entitled "The Starkeeper's Ball," and boasts a night of dazzling entertainment, fine dining and elegant dancing. Entertainment will include performances by cast members of the Walnut's upcoming production of Carousel.
Edwin Forrest Award-Winner Edward M. Satell is a quiet force behind many different scenes. He is the founder, president and CEO of American Future Systems Inc. and Progressive Business Publications (PBP) located in Malvern, PA, a diversified information company with multiple divisions that provides time-sensitive, how-to and reference information to business, professional, government and non-profit executives. In addition to a very successful business philosophy, Mr. Satell is recognized as one of the region's most extensive philanthropists, providing both financial support and personal direction. His two charitable foundations, the Satell Family Trust and the Progressive Business Publications Charitable Trust Fund, actively support diverse philanthropic projects focusing on four areas including medical research, disadvantaged children, community organizations and education.
Some examples of Mr. Satell's philanthropic endeavors include adopting an entire inner city school to help disadvantaged children improve their lives and education; founding the Satell Stem Cell Research Project (both embryonic and adult) focusing on cancer breakthroughs; supporting the education programs and sponsoring a production series each year for the Walnut Street Theatre, funding the select Satell Teen Fellowship for Leadership & Social Activism; sponsoring the Distinguished Newsmaker series and many other cutting-edge speakers for the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, developing a 24/7 study center at International House, creating the internationally recognized National Liberty Museum/Satell Foundational Interfaith Awards; and implementing the Satell Growth & Development Fund at Temple Sholom. Mr. Satell presently serves on numerous boards including: the Walnut Street Theatre, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, The National Liberty Museum, International House and as an honorary board member of the American Technion Society. His past service included the chairperson of the Philadelphia Presidents Organization, World Presidents Organization, education chairperson of Family University, and the directorships of Better Business Bureau of Eastern Pennsylvania and Direct Selling Association. He has been honored as "Man of the Year" by a number of regional organizations including Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Greater Philadelphia Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2003, The Atlas Award for Community Leadership from the World Affairs Council in 2005, The Visionary of Sholom Award from Temple Sholom in 2006, and the Edwin Forrest Man of the Year Award from the Walnut in 2007.
Tony's Macaulay's career both in the theatre and in the music world has made an enormous impact to artists all over the world. He has sold more than 52 million records worldwide. Twenty-four of his songs have been Top-20 hits ("
