Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1421483
Marlee Matlin with her dedication, talent and the impact that she has had on enlightening the world to the deaf and hearing-impaired community, for her powerful performances in both motion pictures and television which demonstrates her understanding, compassion and support for this special group, and we honor her enthusiasm, commitment and amazing achievements as a true humanitarian and an artist is why we are proud to bestow upon her the 2021 LMGI Humanitarian Award Matlin recently starred in the Sundance Film Festival darling Apple Original Film CODA, which follows a hearing teenage girl who is a child of deaf adults. The film won four Sundance awards, including the Grand Jury Prize. Matlin received worldwide critical acclaim for her motion picture debut in Children of a Lesser God, a performance celebrated with the Academy Award® for Best Actress. At age 21, she became the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar. She was also an executive producer of the Oscar-nominated short film Feeling Through, the first film to feature a deaf blind actor in a leading role. Matlin has been a national spokesperson for the American Red Cross, raising public awareness for humanitarian help and disaster relief around the world, served on the Board of the Starlight Children's Foundation helping brighten the lives of terminally ill children, Very Special Arts, an organization that aims to provide every young person with a disability to high-quality arts learning. She has also supported the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Humane Association, the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Feeding America, the Jason Taylor Foundation, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Stand Up. In 1994, she was appointed by President Clinton to the Corporation for National Service; she is a staunch advocate for children and a champion for those struggling against domestic abuse and addiction). Matlin has also helped raise awareness for better hearing health for millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adults in developing countries, in support of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. In 2015, Matlin developed "Marlee Signs," the first celebrity-driven app teaching basics of American Sign Language (ASL) on mobile devices. In 2016, Matlin returned for her third appearance at the Super Bowl, signing the National Anthem alongside Grammy-winning and Platinum-selling artist, Lady Gaga. Matlin has been instrumental in many activities that are aiding the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. Thanks in part to her efforts, all Academy screeners have closed captions. She has helped pass legislation that mandated ASL interpreters be present at all COVID-19 press conferences. She also organized a PSA on how to vote that included leaders in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, aiding the millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans in the ability to vote. Her talents extend to her writing as well, with her autobiography I'll Scream Later becoming a New York Times bestseller. Matlin also published a novel for children titled Deaf Child Crossing which was loosely based on her own childhood. A well sought after, dynamic, and diverse keynote speaker, Matlin boldly challenges audiences to advocate inclusion, acceptance, and access for all people and to endeavor to live a life without judgment of others, that everybody's different, and nobody's perfect. Attendees come away informed and empowered to make a difference in the world, with the knowledge that they can start in just one person's life. Previous recipients of the LMGI Humanitarian Award include philanthropist Robert F. Smith and the Hidden Empire Film Group; cinematographer Haskell Wexler, for his work on crew sleep deprivation; producer Caroline Baron whose FilmAid uses the power of cinema to aid developing countries; and actor Gary Sinese whose Gary Sinese Foundation helps to honor America's defenders, veterans and first responders. "SILENCE IS THE LAST THING THE WORLD WILL EVER HEAR FROM ME." L O C AT I O N M A N A G E R S G U I L D I N T E R N AT I O N A L 8 t h A N N U A L L M G I A W A R D S 2 7