Printing Industries Alliance’s Annual Franklin Event celebrating its 60^th anniversary this year, will be held on Wednesday, September 19 at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Manhattan (5:30-10:00 pm).

Howard Draft, Executive Chairman of Draftfcb, a major business titan and visionary entrepreneur whose fully integrated, worldwide agency network places equal emphasis on the art and science of marketing for more than 100 companies in the Global Fortune 500, will be recognized with the Franklin Event for Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the printing and graphic communications industry.

Since its inception in 1952 by the former Printing Industries of Metropolitan New York, which carried on a tradition started in 1762 of honoring Benjamin Franklin, numerous U.S. presidents, diplomats, statesmen, politicians, industry leaders and other prominent Americans have become Franklin Award recipients. Raymond W. Kelly, Police Commissioner of the City of New York was saluted in 2011. Past honorees include Harry Truman, Walter Cronkite, Norman Rockwell, Michael Bloomberg, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Larry King, Margaret Mead, Malcolm Forbes, Martha Stewart, Mario Cuomo, Sr., John Glenn, Clive Davis are among many who have been recognized for exceptional contributions to their nation and the world.

“The Franklin Event has always been considered as the premier networking event in the metro area, bringing together over 400 CEOS and senior executives from the printing, advertising, and publishing worlds in an intimate setting and this year’s celebration truly promises to be one of the most exciting ever,” noted Co-Chair Martin J. Maloney (Broadford & Maloney).  “The names of three outstanding Power of Communications Award recipients will be announced shortly, along with open industry nominations for the 2012 John Peter Zenger Medalist.”

“Sponsors who wish to save on their corporate budgets can benefit from ‘super-discount’ early bird fees”, added Co-Chair Brenda Barozzi (Pipeline ps.) “Firms that commit by February 17 and remit the fee within 30 days will receive a 20% discount on either a $5,000 Platinum sponsorship (reserved table of ten) or $2,500 Gold (reserved table of five.)  Reservations made on the same terms by March 16 will save 15% and 10% by June 30, respectively. Full prices will apply thereafter. Individual tickets remain at $350 each.  All sponsors are mentioned throughout PIA’s extensive print/electronic/social media publicity campaign, within the printed program, website roster, as well as table and venue signage.”

To sponsor or receive additional information about the 60^th anniversary Franklin Event, contact PIA Vice President Vicki Keenan ([email protected], 908-233-4124).