WFUV Annual Gala: 2013

WFUV Public Radio from Fordham University celebrated our sixth annual Gala event at Edison Ballroom on Thursday, May 9, 2013, honoring musician Rosanne Cash as WFUV Artist of the Year; journalist Sam Donaldson as recipient of the Charles Osgood Lifetime Achievement Award in Broadcast Journalism; and sportscaster Bob Costas as recipient of the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Broadcasting. We also presented a Community Service Award, to The Agnes Varis Charitable Trust. The evening included a cocktail hour, live auction, awards presentations, dinner, a performance by special guest Alejandro Escovedo, and a performance by Rosanne Cash and her band.

Photos of the performances and presentations are on the WFUV Flickr site, as are photos of the party.

Special guests on hand to enjoy the party included: Southside Johnny, John Leventhal, Cliff Eberhardt, Alejandro Escovedo, Marshall Crenshaw, Marc Cohn, Suzanne Vega, Diego Garcia, Garland Jeffreys, Pete and Maura Kennedy (The Kennedys), and Nicole Atkins.

Award Presenters: Don Was, recording artist, producer, and president of Blue Note Records; Charles Osgood, CBS Sunday Morning Anchor; Mike Weisman, former executive producer of NBC Sports and 24-time Sports Emmy Award-winning producer; and Jarrett Lilien, President of the Jazz Foundation of America.

The presenters gave moving tributes to the award's founders, to the worthy recipients, and to the radio station that brings a world of media professionals, music fans and savvy New Yorkers together. Bob Costas' recollections of listening to Vin Scully on the radio brought tears to more than a few eyes; Rosanne spoke of the best radio can be and professed happiness that her "favorite radio station" liked her back; and Don Was envisioned a society made better by the strength of communities like the one in the room. [More details from Fordham's web site here.]

Our sincere thanks to those who contributed, both financially and with high spirits, to keeping WFUV strong and independent.

The evening is organized and planned by WFUV Advisory Board members.