WASHINGTON, April 30, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- In 2007, Larry King will celebrate two milestones close to his heart: 50 years in the broadcast industry and 20 years of life after a major heart attack. The broadcast legend will celebrate his achievements on Saturday, June 9, at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC, during the annual "An Evening with Larry King and Friends" fundraising dinner. The dinner and awards ceremony raises funds for The Larry King Cardiac Foundation (LKCF) and honors leaders in philanthropy and cardiac care.
The 20th anniversary of Larry's heart attack also marks a milestone for his foundation. Larry founded The Larry King Cardiac Foundation (LKCF) in 1988, one year after he suffered a heart attack and recovered from quintuple bypass surgery. He attributes that heart attack to his damaging lifestyle of cigarette smoking, poor diet and little exercise. Larry recognized that he was fortunate enough to have medical insurance to cover his cardiac surgery. He formed LKCF to provide funding for individuals with limited means and no insurance who would otherwise be unable to receive life-saving cardiac treatment. The Foundation's current mission is to 'Save a Heart a Day'.
"There isn't a Hallmark card you can buy for anyone to celebrate 20 years after their heart attack," Larry said. "Lucky for me, I've had the most productive years of my life after my bypass surgery. I went back to work, cleaned up my lifestyle, and decided I needed to help others receive the same level of cardiac treatment I received that saved my life."
Larry's golden 50th anniversary celebrates an unprecedented career in the broadcasting industry. Officially going On Air in May 1957, on Miami's WAHR, his first celebrity interview was teen heartthrob crooner Bobby Darin. "Larry King Live" premiered on CNN in June 1985 and is now the network's longest running program and highest rated interview program. Larry has interviewed more than 40,000 of the most influential and interesting people of his time in politics, entertainment and culture. Notable guests include: Tony Blair, Marlon Brando, George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, Johnny Carson, Jimmy Carter and Roslyn Carter, Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bette Davis, Sammy Davis Jr., Gerald Ford and Betty Ford, Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan, Eleanor Roosevelt, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Oprah Winfrey and Malcolm X.
Larry has been inducted into five of the nation's leading broadcasting halls of fame, has a star on the Walk of Fame, is the recipient of the prestigious Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in Journalism and was named 1993's "Talk Show Host of the Year" by the National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts. Both his radio and television shows have won the Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.
"An Evening with Larry King and Friends" will be held on Saturday, June 9, at 6:30 pm at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC. The black tie event will be hosted by Larry King and his wife, LKCF Chair, Shawn Southwick-King. The gala includes silent auction, live auction, awards ceremony, dinner, and entertainment. Sponsorships are available from $15,000 to $200,000+. Individual tickets and ticket groups range from $1,500 to $6,000 and are available online at www.lkcf.org or by contacting Holly Lee at Holly.Lee@lkcf.org.
About LKCF: The Larry King Cardiac Foundation was established in 1988 to provide funding for life-saving treatment for individuals, who, due to limited means or no insurance, would be otherwise unable to receive the treatment and medical attention they so desperately need. For more information, visit www.lkcf.org.
The Larry King Cardiac Foundation logo is available at http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=558
About "Larry King Live": "Larry King Live" is CNN's longest-running interview program. Premiering in June 1985 with its now-famous mix of interviews and topical discussions, the show features guests from the worlds of business, entertainment and politics. Across the nation and around the world, viewers have made "Larry King Live" a part of their nightly television routine. Telecast every night at 9 p.m. ET, the program also features phone calls from viewers around the globe and emails from his website. For more information about CNN and "Larry King Live," visit www.cnn.com/LarryKing.