NEW YORK, February 5, 2003 – The Association of Graphic Communications (AGC) has announced that New York Governor George E. Pataki will be the recipient of the 51st annual Franklin Award for Distinguished Service, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of world leaders and dedicated Americans. Since 1952 the Franklin Award has been presented to three U.S. Presidents, as well as to Walter Cronkite, Governor Mario Cuomo, Senator Bill Bradley and, last year, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It will be presented to Governor Pataki on May 15th at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, as part of the 2003 Annual Franklin Event sponsored by the AGC. Also at the event, three distinguished leaders of the graphic communications world will receive the AGC’s Power of Communications Awards: Francis R. Costello, president of R.R. Donnelley’s publishing division; Angelo Rivello, senior vice president at Newsweek; and Robert J. Stabler, president of Agfa Graphics Systems. In addition, a newly created Benjamin Franklin Industry Service Award will be given to Victor and Sandy Triolo of First Impressions, a Long Island printing company. As in previous years, a portion of the proceeds from the evening will be donated to Literacy Partners, and this year a portion will go to New York City’s public schools as well, via the school system’s new Office of Strategic Partnerships. Caroline Kennedy, the office’s Chief Executive, has been invited to receive the special donation from the AGC. This year's Franklin Event is being co-chaired by Martin Maloney of Broadford & Maloney Inc., and Wendy Kleinman of WK Planning Ltd. The Franklin Event committee has more than twenty members representing the industry's leading companies. Over 400 top printing, publishing, and corporate executives are expected to attend the 2003 Annual Franklin Event at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, which is operated by Abigail Kirsch, the New York area’s pre-eminent caterer. The evening begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., followed by the presentation ceremony and buffet dinner. Reservations are available by mail from the AGC at 330 Seventh Avenue, 9th floor, New York, NY 10001; telephone 212-279-2103; fax 212-279-5381. The cost is $300 per person (MasterCard, Visa and American Express accepted), with special silver, gold and platinum sponsorships available that range from $1,250 for two tickets to $5,000 for ten tickets. About the AGC The Association of Graphic Communications is a regional non-profit industry organization of printers/trade services, advertising agencies, corporate communications functions, design firms, multi-media companies, publishers, industry suppliers and professional/financial services. In serving its members and the business interests of the New York/New Jersey/Long Island metro area’s $12 billion graphic communications sector, the AGC is a vehicle for industry promotion and marketing, a major provider of graphic art education and training, an advocate on legislative and environmental issues, a network for industry information and idea exchange, and a source for bottom-line savings.