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[[images - scenes from the meeting]]

Corporate Recipient

Essence Communications, Inc. (ECI) is a privately-held corporation with interests in publishing, television programming, licensing and direct mail marketing. It presently employs 75 employees in offices in New York, Chicago and Atlanta.

ECI is best known for its ESSENCE Magazine, the only lifestyle magazine for black women. With its service-oriented format, ESSENCE meets the needs of its readers by informing them of the most significant developments in public affairs, education, life styles, entertainment, decorating, food, fashion and the arts. Monthly readership of ESSENCE Magazine exceeds 3.7 million.

In 1973, the company introduced "ESSENCE, The Television Program," a weekly magazine and news service program. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Susan L. Taylor, the popular 30-minute show is nationally syndicated and features a full range of news stories, interviews and discussions.

In 1983, ECI created a licensing division for the distribution of its new line of ESSENCE Intimate Apparel. A year later, the company launched "ESSENCE By Mail," a mail order catalog featuring home and fashion products.

Accepting the award for Essence Communications, Inc. are Publisher Edward Lewis and President Clarence O. Smith.

Bryant Gumbel is the popular anchor of the "Today Show," the NBC early morning news program.

Mr. Gumbel began his career in 1971 as a staff writer for BLACK SPORTS magazine. Eight months later, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the magazine. In 1972, he was named weekend sportscaster for KNBC, an NBC television affiliate in Los Angeles, and a year later was named week-day sportscaster. He was appointed the station's sports director in 1976, a post he held until 1980.

In addition to his duties as KNBC's sports director, Mr. Gumbel began as co-host of the network's "NFL Pre-Game Show" in the fall of 1975. By 1980, Mr. Gumbel had become familiar to "Today's" audience through his thrice-weekly sports reports. He was the NBC sports host for network coverage of Major League Baseball, NCAA Championship Basketball and National Football League telecasts until January, 1982, when he joined "Today."

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mr. Gumbel graduated from Bates College with a liberal arts degree.

He and his wife, June, reside in Manhattan and Calabasas Park, California. They have two children.

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