Maria Shriver:
• Peabody and Emmy-winning journalist and producer
• Six time New York Times best-selling author
• NBC News Special Anchor reporting on the shifting roles, emerging power and evolving needs of women in modern life.
Maria creates socially conscious television, books, films and digital media with the purpose of informing, inspiring and igniting hearts and minds in a discussion that produce positive impact in the world. Shriver’s work is driven by her belief that all of us have the ability to be what she calls Architects of Change — people who see a problem in their own life or the community around them, then step out of their comfort zone and do what it takes to create the solution. Her website, MariaShriver.com, features life stories and life lessons from Architects of Change aimed at inspiring people to use their own ideas, influence and initiative to go out and make an impact on our world.
Maria is one of the nation’s leading advocates for families struggling with Alzheimer’s disease. Her father, Sargent Shriver, was diagnosed with the disease in 2003 and passed away from it in 2011 at the age of 95. In 2009, Shriver co-executive produced the Emmy Award-winning four-part HBO documentary series called The Alzheimer’s Project, which opened millions of people’s eyes to the devastating disease. One of the films in the series, “Grandpa, Do you Know Who I Am?” was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for exemplifying “television with a conscience” and was based on Shriver’s best-selling children’s book dealing with Alzheimer’s.
In 2009, Shriver testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging to encourage Congress to make Alzheimer’s a national legislative priority. Shriver’s voice was instrumental in the December 2010 passage of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act. In addition, Shriver serves on the advisory board of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas and continues to advocate for patients and families alike.
In June 2014, Brita Lynn was chosen out of 4,000 plus entries as the winner for Starbucks "White Cup Contest." Her design was reproduced onto their reusable cups online and in every store in the US and Canada during that summer. Winning the contest launched Brita Lynn's dream to have a business of her own. The day before they announced her as the winner, Brita Lynn created her Etsy shop. After winning, her social media following exploded. Brita Lynn now has the opportunity to connect and ship all over the world. Just a few years ago, she never thought she would have a business, a business for—and supported by—her art. It all happened fast and has been nonstop ever since. Brita Lynn still remembers the email she got from Starbucks right before they announced to world that she was the winner. The email said, "Be tough, be ready, because your life is about to change." It did, and she couldn't be happier.
