John D. Evans, best known for co-founding C-SPAN and for his charitable efforts in AIDS awareness and research, will receive the award for Courage in Business at the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's (NGLCC) 2009 National Dinner: An Evening of Courage!
Evans is a globally recognized expert in the telecommunications industry and on technological innovation, and is the current chair and CEO of the Evans Telecommunications Company—an investment and consulting firm in the cable television and telecommunications industries.
"John has a unique background," said NGLCC co-founder and president, Justin Nelson. "C-SPAN has been a central part of ensuring everyday Americans can be a part of the dialogue in Washington." Nelson noted that Evans has also been a courageous leader in other areas, including his prolific fundraising efforts for the AIDS vaccine and his life's work in technology. "We are pleased and honored to share John's story at this year's dinner," Nelson said.
In 1977 Evans co-founded C-SPAN, allowing the public to peak inside the legislative decision-making process that had been otherwise unknowable to those outside Capitol Hill, and served as its chairman in the early 1990s. In 1995, Evans was appointed by Robert C. Gallo, co-discoverer of the AIDS virus, to Dr. Gallo's Advisory Board for the Institute of Human Virology, a leading international scientific and clinical research center for AIDS located at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.
In 1998, he was the keynote speaker for Dr. Gallo's annual meeting on AIDS and viruses, attended by more than 1,000 of the world's top AIDS scientists and clinicians. In 1999, he was asked to head up a four-university research alliance—The Waterford Project—to accelerate the development of an AIDS vaccine for the world. Today, Evans is an active on the C-SPAN board as chairman of the Finance and Strategic Planning committees, and serves on the board of advisors for the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Institute of Human Virology, and on the board for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.
Evans is the founder of the John D. Evans Foundation, an organization committed to AIDS and cancer research, protection of the environment, and improving the quality of life through technological innovation, education and the arts.
"From C-SPAN to Internet 2.0 to being a leader in the pursuit of a vaccine for HIV/AIDS, John has dedicated his life to public policy and public health, said NGLCC co-founder and CEO, Chance Mitchell.
The NGLCC will announce honorees for Corporation of the Year, Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year and the NGLCC/American Airlines ExtrAA Mile Award in the next BIZ eBlast on Thursday, Oct. 8.
