The first CAMIE® AWARD event and luncheon was held on February 20, 2001, at Memorial House, Memory Grove Park, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was hosted by Alan Cassidy. The invocation was given by Mark Willes, former CEO of Times-Mirror and publisher of the Los Angeles Times.
Dr. Glen C. Griffin, the CAMIE® chairman answered the question “What are the CAMIE® AWARDS?” Board member, psychologist, and attorney, Dr. R. Christopher Barden, talked about the media being a powerful tool. Martha Henstrom, the executive director of moviepicks.org talked about this website being the place to find uplifting movies. Shepherd Smith, a CAMIE® board member and the president of the Institute of Youth Development, explained why we need moviepicks and the CAMIES®. Dr. Freda McKissic Bush, another CAMIE® board member and faculty member of the University of Mississippi Medical Center talked about teaching kids to wait for sex until marriage. Marianne M. Jennings, CAMIE® board member, professor of legal and ethical studies at Arizona State University, talked about choosing only uplifting shows.
CAMIES® were presented for eight uplifting films by Janet Lee, Dr. Bush, and Dr. Griffin. There was a significant feeling of emotion and warmth as film-makers from Canada to Hollywood were brought together to be honored for creating these uplifting films. Although the CAMIE® winners knew of each other’s work, most had never met.
Here are the 2001 CAMIE® AWARD winners:
- Anne of Green Gables
- The Loretta Claiborne Story
- A Season For Miracles
- The Last Dance
- The Miracle Worker
- Toy Story 2
- The Lost Child
- Remember the Titans
CAMIES® were also presented to PAX Television network for wholesome and uplifting family programming, the television series Touched by An Angel, and 7th Heaven.
