American Spirit Foundation
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The American Spirit Foundation was founded in 1989 by Hollywood screen legend Jimmy Stewart and Hollywood entrepreneur Peter F. Paul. The foundation was established by Stewart and Paul in order to advance the momentum they developed in their collaboration in the California Bicentennial Foundation for the Constitution and Bill of Rights during the Bicentennial of The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights commemoration from 1987-1989. Their successful use of entertainment industry talent and resources to create greater public appreciation and understanding of the Constitution and Bill of Rights led them to attempt to institutionalize the use of the entertainment industry for innovative public education programs in the U.S., and support of democracy movements in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Block. They worked closely with the interdisciplinary studies director of the Smithsonian Institution, Russian president Boris Yeltsin and Polish President Lech Walesa.
Stewart remained as honorary Chair of the Foundation, while Paul served as President and CEO. In 1990, Spider Man creator Stan Lee, Chairman Emeritus of Marvel Entertainment was invited to serve as Chairman of the Foundation, which he did through 1997. Stan Lee and Peter F. Paul collaborated to develop a Hollywood initiative, the Entertainers for Education project that was launched at the Fourth Spirit of America Awards Gala in Beverly Hills, December 13, 1990. Jimmy Stewart served as Chairman of the Gala, Charlton Heston emceed and President Ronald Reagan and Mrs. Nancy Reagan presented the Spirit of America Awards to Helen Hayes and MCA/Universal Chief Lew Wasserman, while launching the Entertainers for Educationinitiative before more than 150 Hollywood luminaries and executives at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
The Foundation recognized, through Spirit of America Awards, the contributions of more than thirty celebrated Americans who each personified a significant cultural contribution to the American Experience, and the vitality of the American Dream as a beacon to all of mankind.
Spirit of America Honorees included Muhammad Ali, Jaime Escalante, Yo Yo Ma, Bob Hope, Helen Hayes, Ronald Reagan, Irene Dunne, Richard O. Anderson, Roy Campanella, Buzz Aldrin, Rafer Johnson, George Argyros, Ernest Hahn, Howard Finster, Michael Crawford, Boris Yeltsin, Lew Wasserman.
