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he announcement hit the trades in August 1948. "Effective from last May 1, the Screen Directors Guild is establishing awards to be presented quarterly for the best di- rected picture, and annually for the outstanding directorial achievement of the year," wrote Variety under the banner headline "SDG Gives Own Awards." A kind of Declaration of Independence from the Academy, the awards were initiated to give credit for outstanding work and enhance the image of the director in the eyes of the indus- try, the press, and the public. SDG President George Marshall called it "a family affair" and said no one was more qualified to judge the work of directors than directors themselves. "It isn't that we're dissatisfied with the Academy Awards," said Marshall. "We just want awards of our own judged on technique only." At the first ceremony at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, President George Marshall (center) poses with award recipients (from left) George Stevens, Darryl F. Zanuck (accepting for Howard Hawks), Fred Zinnemann, and Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who won for feature film. GUILD AWARDS LAUNCHED 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 Educational and Benevolent Foundation Founded >Initially backed by a $25,000 donation from director Leo McCarey, today's foundation offers no-interest, short-term loans to members experiencing financial hardship. It part- nered with the MPTF and UCLA in 2015 to establish the DGA Foundation Cog- nitive Wellness Program, a research program exploring ways to delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's symptoms. George Stevens Elected Guild President for Second Term >Serves 1946-1948 George Marshall Elected Guild President >Serves 1948-1950 Screen Directors Guild Awards Are Established DGA.org/1stAwards Radio & Television Directors Guild Forms in New York "Thanks to the foresight of a small group of directors seeking to offer compassionate assistance to fellow members in need, 70 years later, the DGA Foundation continues that vital mission, making sure that members facing financial crisis have somewhere to turn." —DON PETRIE | Directors Guild Foundation Chair "[Winning] this is truly an honor and I'm humbled by being recognized by my peers. ... They do what I do so it means everything." —ALFONSO CUARÓN | Winner of DGA Award for Gravity in 2013 >During World War II, Guild members contributed to the war effort, and directors Frank Capra, John Ford, William Wyler, George Stevens, and John Huston were enlisted to make documentaries on behalf of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. In a 1942 Christmas greeting, Guild President George Stevens told members, "[You] are doing your part in finishing the biggest and most important production on which you have ever worked." DGA.org/WW2 1941-1945 THE WAR EFFORT T dga quarterly 39 George Stevens with captured German soldiers in 1945. PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE, TOP RIGHT) DGA ARCHIVES (2); LANDOV/CBS; HOWARD WISE; AMPAS; FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES FOR DGA