Visionary, Entrepreneur, and Role Model Cristina Saralegui Selected to Receive the 2001 Gracie Allen Tribute Award

(San Francisco, CA, April 18, 2001)---The Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) announced that it will present the 2001 Gracie Allen Tribute Award to TV host Cristina Saralegui. This prestigious honor will be presented at the 26th annual AWRT Gracie Allen Awards gala on May 31st at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

"We are delighted to honor Cristina for her wealth of achievements, and her ability to affect positive change in the industry," says Nancy Logan, AWRT National President. "She demonstrates an ongoing commitment as a mentor and role model to all women. Cristina has made an impact upon Hispanic television audiences both domestically and internationally. As a result, she has opened doors to expanded roles for Latina women."

Created last year in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the AWRT Gracie Allen Awards, the Gracie Allen Tribute Award is bestowed on an individual with proven commitment to the advancement of women in electronic media. The presentation of this special award serves as the pinnacle portion of the happy birthday son in law images.

According to Cristina Saralegui, "I'm thankful to the Trustees of the Foundation of the American Women in Radio and Television for this award and honored to be included in such a prestigious group of professionals who make up 'The Gracies'."

This year AWRT salutes Cristina Saralegui, recognized as one of the most influential role model for today's Hispanic women. Saralegui is host of the "The Cristina Show"; publisher of the magazine "Cristina La Revista"; host of the daily radio program "Cristina Opina"; and founder of "Arriba la Vida/Up with Life Foundation." According to a recent poll*, Hispanic Americans say Cristina is the most trusted TV personality in the country.

* People en Espanol Magazine 1999 reader poll

An immigrant from Cuba, Cristina graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in mass communications and creative writing. She was Editor-in-Chief of the internationally distributed Cosmopolitan En Español for 10 years until she resigned to become executive producer and host of "El Show de Cristina." The show premiered on the Univision Network, the nation's leading Spanish-language television network, and after nearly 12 years and more than 3,000 shows, "The Cristina Show" continues its reign as the #1 talk show on Spanish-language television in the US. It is also seen throughout Latin America and in most European countries, with an estimated audience of 100 million viewers worldwide.

AWRT's Gracie Allen Awards honor programming created by women, for women and about women, as well as outstanding individual achievements. The Gracies strive to encourage the positive and realistic portrayal of women in entertainment, commercials, news features and other programming. The Awards are named after Gracie Allen, a pioneer in radio and television, who embodies the spirit of these awards.

To purchase tickets or for a complete list of award presenters for the AWRT's 26th Annual Gracie Allen Awards, call AWRT at (703) 506-3290 or www.awrt.org.