Updated: March 2019

40th anniversary fundraiser (2011)

40th Anniversary event mixes maritime with merriment

By Michelle De Mooy

Consumer Action celebrated its 40th anniversary with a memory-filled event in Washington, DC on Oct. 18. Held at the Naval Heritage Center in downtown DC, the fundraiser was an enormous success, raising $147,760 to support Consumer Action’s work. Click here to view a photo gallery from the event.

More than 140 guests, including members of Congress, government officials, community partners, consumer advocates, industry representatives and Consumer Action staff, mingled amidst a backdrop of maritime history.

The reception included the organization’s annual Consumer Excellence awards for outstanding consumer reporter, legislator and community group. This year’s recipients are Eileen Ambrose, financial correspondent for the Baltimore Sun; Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY); and the Opportunities Industrialization Center of DC, a Consumer Action community partner.

In her acceptance speech, Congresswoman Maloney spoke about the impact that Consumer Action has had in helping protect the rights of ordinary Americans.

“Consumer Action was involved in making financial reform happen right from the start,” Maloney said. “They were instrumental in developing the Cardholders Bill of Rights and in getting the historic CARD Act passed.”

Ken McEldowney, Consumer Action executive director, shared his perspective on the organization’s expansion into a national powerhouse over 40 years, with its offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. “We are proud to be here tonight knowing that our work has made a positive difference in people’s lives over the past four decades,” said McEldowney.

He thanked Google, TracFone, Capital One and Microsoft for providing major underwriting support.

2011 Donors & Supporters

Underwriters:
Capital One | Google | Microsoft | TracFone

Leadership Circle:
Citi | Visa Inc.

Benefactors:
American Express | AT&T | DCI | Dewey Square | DIRECTV | JPMorgan Chase | Time Warner Cable | VantageScore Solutions, LLC

Sponsors:
Bank of America | Intel | The Hastings Group

Patrons
Certified Automotive Parts Association | Eric Starkman & Associates | Venable, LLP | Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP | Western Union | Humana, Inc. | Consumer Attorneys of California | Don Rounds

Special Friends:
James S. Beck | Comcast | CUNA Mutual Group | Experian | Future of Privacy Forum | Neil Gendel | Homeownership Preservation Foundation | NYSE Euronext | Sage Communications | Shartsis Friese LLP | Southern California Gas Company | Chris Lewis | Copy Copies

Supporters
Marsha Cohen | Consumers First, Inc. | Grubb & Ellis | Irene Leech | National Consumers League (NCL) | Nossaman LLP | Public Citizen | Patricia Sturdevant | Susan Weinstock | Debra Berlyn, Consumer Policy Solutions | Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP