GLSEN Announces Honorees for 2009 Respect Awards - New York Gala

Media Contact:
Anthony Ramos
646-388-6575
aramos@glsen.org

May 08, 2009

NEW YORK, May 8, 2009 - PepsiCo, KPMG and GLSEN volunteer and lifelong educator Mary Jane Karger have been announced as honorees for the sixth annual Respect Awards gala, to be held on June 1, 2009, at Gotham Hall, New York City. Proceeds from the event will benefit GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

GLSEN's Respect Awards recognize individual and corporate leaders who have helped propel GLSEN's efforts to ensure safe schools for all of America's students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: PepsiCo
As a leader in diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond, PepsiCo has been a strong supporter of the LGBT community for many years. PepsiCo has a broad-based D&I effort and has pioneered many innovations, playing a role as one of the first major U.S. companies to hire and promote people of color into professional and executive positions and to appoint female board members. The company consistently has been selected to appear on DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity list. Accepting the Respect Award will be Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Americas Foods John Compton.

Educator of the Year: Mary Jane Karger
A life-long educator and advocate for youth, Mary Jane's work has given thousands of students nationwide the opportunity to thrive without fear of discrimination and harassment. Mary Jane joined GLSEN's Hudson Valley chapter in 1997 and became co-chair in 1998. Her volunteer service to GLSEN includes starting a GLSEN Westchester sub-chapter and co-chapters in Rockland and Orange-Ulster counties; initiating GLSEN's National Advisory Council; and serving as a member of GLSEN's national Board of Directors since 2003.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: KPMG
KPMGLLP values diversity and believes that the unique perspectives of its people are not only key to its business; diversity also is essential to making KPMG a great place to build a career. KPMG vaulted 28 spots on DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity list to number 21, and ranks 6th among DiversityInc's Top Companies for LGBT Employees. Accepting the award will be Bruce Pfau, PhD, Vice Chair, Human Resources.

Past Respect Awards - New York honorees include: John J. Mack, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley, the National Education Association, Citigroup, former U.S. House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and his daughter Chrissy Gephardt, student leaders Talia Stein and Mariano Gatte, Lehman Brothers, Andrew Tobias and MTV

About GLSEN
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN's research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.

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