Today, January 5th
ELLEN DEGENERES RECEIVES THE CAROL BURNETT AWARD AT TONIGHT’S GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS. Today, Ellen is America’s BFF. But as President Obama reminded us when awarding her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, “It’s easy to forget now… just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on [her sit-com] almost 20 years ago.” The backlash was every bit as ugly as she feared it would be, if not worse. Advertisers deserted her, and the show was cancelled (crippling her financially)—but not before ABC smacked each episode with a viewer discretion warning, cautioning "adult content".
That brave act alone warrants tonight’s recognition for “impactful achievement in television.” But Ellen has spent an entire career championing inclusion and giving back. Says her talk show’s executive producer Mary Connelly, “Ellen makes it cool to be kind.”
SHARK TANK RETURNS FOR ITS 12th SEASON (Sundays 9/8c): And like the buy-one-donate-one sock giant, BOMBAS (featured in our January 1 post), its list of entrepreneurs who want to do good are many.
With giving back their mission from the start, the founders of boot sock company, GRACE & LACE built two orphanages in India in honor of the daughter they lost to a miscarriage.
Jewelry company STELLA VALLE, created by former U.S. army officers and sisters Paige and Ashley, donates a portion of its profits to veterans' organization, Team Red, White and Blue.
The founders of ugly Christmas sweater company, TIPSY ELVES, give proceeds from every sweater sold to children in need through their Sweaters for Sweaters program AND another two dollars for every sweater sold to Stand Up To Cancer.