Marlo Thomas and
The Late Phil Donahue
Actress and Producer; Journalist and Host, The Phil Donahue Show
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014, and co-founded the Ms. Foundation for Women. The late Phil Donahue was an award-winning journalist, writer, film producer, and television host who pioneered TV’s audience-participation talk format as creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show. He earned 20 Emmy Awards, the Peabody Award, the President’s Award from the National Women’s Political Caucus, the Media Person of the Year from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance, induction into the Academy of Television’s Hall of Fame, and the 2024 Presidential Medal of Freedom. He died on August 18, 2024, at age 88.
“Human trafficking and sexual exploitation are epidemics that must be eradicated. Today, as throughout our history, the fundamental rights of women, children, all people, are freedom, equality, and nothing less.”