2020 Sammies Gala Media Advisory

September 24, 2020

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

HOLLYWOOD, BUSINESS LEADERS AND TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS UNITE TO HONOR SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDAL RECIPIENTS AT FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL GALA

WASHINGTON – On Monday, Oct. 5, at 8:00 p.m. EDT, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service will host its first-ever virtual gala to honor the 2020 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal^®recipients. The Service to America Medals, known as the “Oscars” of public service, is the premier awards program recognizing excellence in the federal government. 

Comedians, actors, top business executives and federal leaders will come together for a special one-hour program featuring tributes to the six medal recipients. As part of the evening’s festivities, the Partnership will also present its third annual Spirit of Service award to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. 

The 2020 Sammies program will be distributed by media partners Axios, Bloomberg, Twitter and YouTube. Viewers can register to stream the Sammies here.

WHAT:          2020 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals virtual awards ceremony

WHO:            Service to America Medals recipients (call for embargoed list of 2020 winners)

Hosted by Kumail Nanjiani, actor and comedian

Medal presenters include: 

• Samantha Bee, host and executive producer, “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”Kristen Bell, actress, singer and producerMayim Bialik, actress, author and neuroscientistAdam Conover, creator and host, “Adam Ruins Everything”Nick Kroll, actor, comedian and producerAisha Tyler, actress, comedian and directorDarren Walker, president, Ford Foundation

2020 Spirit of Service Award recipient Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft

Distinguished participants include: 

• 2019 Spirit of Service awardee Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the 108th Mayor of New York City
  • Vint Cerf, vice president and chief internet evangelist, Google
  • Francis Collins, director, National Institutes of Health
  • Robert Redfield, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Richard Stone, executive in charge, Veterans Health Administration
  • Robert Wilkie, secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Max Stier, president and CEO, Partnership for Public Service

WHEN:          Monday, Oct. 5, 8 to 9 p.m. EDT

WHERE:        Streaming live on Axios.com and Axios Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages; airing on Bloomberg TV; and streaming on the Partnership for Public Service Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages

BACKGROUND: Named after the Partnership for Public Service’s late founder, who was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s call to serve in 1963, the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals recognize dedicated civil servants who have made important contributions to the health, safety and prosperity of our country. Since its inception in 2002, the program has honored more than 500 outstanding federal employees who have made a difference and improved the lives of Americans and others around the world. 

The 2020 Service to America Medals are made possible by the generous support of our sponsors. The premier sponsor for the 2020 Sammies is Mrs. Ronnie F. Heyman and Family. National sponsors include Bloomberg Philanthropies, ConantLeadership, David Marchick, Jennifer and David Millstone, Indra and Raj Nooyi, Standard Industries, and Patricia A. and George W. Wellde Jr. Capital sponsors include Tom and Andi Bernstein, Charina Endowment Fund, Microsoft, and Tom Nides.  Platinum sponsors include Citi, Deloitte, EY, David J. Kappos and Leslie Kimball, McKinsey & Company, The MITRE Corporation, Morgan Stanley Foundation, Steve and Molly Preston, and Verint.

MEDIA:         Please RSVP to Austin Laufersweiler by email or call 678-575-1030 to receive registration information.

About the Partnership for Public Service 
During the past 19 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to making the federal government more effective. We work across administrations to help transform the way government operates, by increasing collaboration, accountability, efficiency and innovation. Visit opswebdev.wpengine.com to learn more. Follow us on social @publicservice and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more.

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