Saturday, November 07, 2015 5:10 PM
Tony Award winning actor/director Joe Mantegna will accept the Los Angeles Press Club’s Visionary Award at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards Gala on December 6 at the Biltmore Hotel, downtown Los Angeles. At the same event, Tavis Smiley will receive the Luminary Award for Career Achievement.
“Joe Mantegna is known as an actor’s actor. He is also one of Hollywood’s most authentic and caring people quietly donating his time and support to Veteran’s causes as well as numerous charities. The LAPC is delighted to be honoring him with our Visionary Award,” said the club’s executive director Diana Ljungaeus..
The Visionary Award was instituted to honor an individual within the Entertainment Industry who uses their high-profile status to make the world a better place and to spread information about issues of freedom and importance.
The star of the CBS hit show Criminal Minds is a major supporter of our military service men and women. Since 2002, Joe has co-hosted the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington DC along with Gary Sinise. Mantegna is the Honorary Chairman for The Salute to Hospitalized Veterans and often lends his time and support to related charities. Whenever possible he visits VA Hospitals. He has received the prestigious USO of Metropolitan Washington’s Merit Award for his work entertaining and supporting our troops and their families.
In addition Mantegna has helped raise millions of dollars for charities including Autism, The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center and Breast Cancer Awareness to name just a few.
Jane Fonda, introduced by Robert Redford, was the first recipient of the Visionary Award . Forest Whitaker was honored two years ago and last year it was Quincy Jones, introduced by Tina Sinatra.
The Los Angeles Press Club established the NAEJ awards in 2008 to recognize the quality journalism being produced in the fastest growing segment in modern media. It remains the sole award of its kind in the nation.
