GLAAD National Board of Directors appoints Pamela Stewart as new co-chair, announces new members Ariadne Getty, Nicole Eisenberg

New York, NY —GLAAD, the world’s LGBTQ media advocacy organization today announced that The Coca-Cola Company executive Pamela Stewart has been appointed to co-chair of GLAAD’s National Board of Directors, serving alongside author and advocate Jennifer Finney Boylan. Additionally, President and Executive Director of the Ariadne Getty Foundation, Ariadne Getty and philanthropist Nicole Eisenberg will join the organization’s National Board of Directors. GLAAD also today announced a $1 million gift from the Ariadne Getty Foundation to support the organization’s Transgender Media Program, which works to increase the quantity and quality of transgender representation in news, entertainment, and digital media.

“GLAAD’s National Board of Directors bring vision and unrivaled expertise to our work of accelerating acceptance for the LGBTQ community,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president & CEO. “We are honored to welcome these esteemed new members to GLAAD’s National Board of Directors and celebrate Pamela Stewart’s appointment as co-chair.”

Pamela Stewart has spent 16 years in The Coca-Cola Company and currently works as a Vice President in the National Retail Sales organization after formally serving in other key leadership roles across the company in the areas of national and regional sales, operations and finance in both the foodservice on premise and retail business channels. Stewart spent several years in finance within key industries prior to her career at The Coca-Cola Company. Pam has served on the Board of Directors of GLAAD nationally since 2015, Camp Twin Lakes, Junior Achievement of Georgia and Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (AGLCC). In addition, she is the Chair of The Coca-Cola Company’s Multicultural Leadership Council, as well as an alumna of Leadership Atlanta. Stewart also received several professional industry and community recognition and honors like ADColor Advocate of the Year, Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery of the Year and AGLCC’s Business Woman of the Year.

A lifelong philanthropist, Ariadne Getty has a keen focus on serving disenfranchised populations. Her sense of integrity and compassion help to guide the AGF’s investments. Much of Ariadne's charitable work stems from her personal history; both of her children, Natalia (Nats) and August are gay, and about 60% of Ariadne's philanthropic efforts go towards working with the LGBTQ community. Ariadne also works very closely with the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Ariadne joins Ted Turner, Kofi Annan, Muhammad Yunus and Queen Rania of Jordan as inaugural board members of the Better World Fund, an educational and advocacy nonprofit driving support for the United Nations and UN causes such as refugees and gender inequality. This role has taken her on missions to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo where she visits refugee camps with strategic people to create better living conditions.

“We are grateful to the Ariadne Getty Foundation for its very generous gift supporting the work of GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program,” said Nick Adams, the director of GLAAD's Transgender Media Program. “Media interest in transgender people and the issues they face is at an all-time high, creating an increased demand for GLAAD's guidance and expertise. However, the backlash against the trans community is also stronger than ever, with 44 transgender people murdered in the past 22 months, and bills like North Carolina's HB2 making the world a more dangerous place for trans people everywhere. The Ariadne Getty Foundation's grant will give GLAAD the tools and resources we need to continue pushing for better trans stories in the media, and to protect the progress we've made toward equality and acceptance for all transgender people.”

Eisenberg has been a highly respected philanthropic leader in the Detroit community for the last 15 years, championing causes in Arts, Education, Health Care and Community Outreach. In recognition of her full-time fundraising efforts, Nicole has been honored in various local and national publications, most notably being named one of the “Detroiters of the Year,” by Hour Magazine in its Philanthropy Issue, highlighting her significant time, resources and creativity given to many worthwhile endeavors. Eisenberg is a Board of Director at the Detroit Institute of Arts, serving as Chairman of the Development Committee, as well as sitting on the Collections Committee. She is a trustee on the board of the College of Creative Studies, where she also serves on the esteemed school’s Fashion Accessories Board. Eisenberg’s other board service includes Friends of the Arts at Detroit Country Day School as well as the Detroit Public Theatre. Named "One of the Top 100 Party Planners in the United States" by Salonniere in 2016, she is frequently asked by various high-profile charities to chair their signature fundraising events or to be on their Host Committees, to which she also volunteers a considerable amount of time.