Kathie Lee & Frank Gifford To Speak Saturday
Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford will be the speakers for the fifth annual Spiritual Heritage Nantucket event to be held this Saturday, June 27 at 7:00 pm in the First Congregational Church. This event is free and open to the public. Earlier in the day, they will also be speaking at a luncheon at the Sconset Casino. “We are thrilled that these talented people would take time from their busy schedules to talk about what is “The Real Thing” in their lives” said Ann Furrow, President of Spiritual Heritage Nantucket.
Kathie Lee Gifford has enjoyed a diverse and successful four-decade career as a television host, actress, singer, playwright, songwriter, and author. Gifford is best known for her 15 years on Regis and Kathie Lee and her current position as co-host on the Today Show with Hoda Kotb. Gifford has performed on Broadway, written 3 plays (book and lyrics), and collaborated (lyrics) on the score of ‘HATS.’ She has written and released several popular CD’s to include ‘The Heart of a Woman’ and ‘Gentle Grace.’ Her 8th book, Just When I Thought I Dropped My Last Egg, was released this April by Random House.
Away from the spotlight, Gifford has worked for the betterment of society. She has lobbied for the eradication of inhumane working conditions of garment workers throughout the world and recently helped to get the Childhelp National Registry Act passed which creates a national registry of cases of child abuse and neglect. She and husband, Frank, devote much of their time to the Association to Benefit Children, which created Cody House and Cassidy’s Place. The Giffords have been married 23 years and live with their two children Cody (19) and Cassidy (16) in Greenwich, Connecticut. They have been summer residents of Nantucket for 11 years.
Frank Gifford is known equally well for his exploits on the gridiron and in the broadcast booth. Gifford earned All-American honors at the University of Southern California and was the #1 draft pick of the New York Giants in 1952. Playing with the Giants for 12 seasons, Gifford earned All-Pro honors six times and was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1956 when he led the Giants to the World Championship. Gifford was voted eight times to the NFL’s Pro Bowl and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
After his playing career, Gifford worked as a sports broadcaster for more than four decades, which included 27 years in the booth for ABC’s Monday Night Football. Gifford is the author of several books to include his newest book, The Glory Game, about the 1958 championship football game between the Baltimore Colts and the NY Giants which was just released by Random House.
In addition to the Giffords, Rob Mathes, who has been called “one of the most talented musicians of our time,” will perform at both events. Mathes is a Grammy and Emmy nominated musician, music director, singer/songwriter, arranger, and record producer who has been writing his own brand of blues-drenched spiritual Pop for years. He has written and produced for diverse singers and groups, from Elton John and Pavarotti to Bonnie Raitt. Yearly he directs the Kennedy Center Honors, and his Christmas Concerts that have spawned 2 PBS specials. He recently directed and arranged the Opening Celebration of the Inauguration of President Obama.
Spiritual Heritage Nantucket is a non-denominational group of year-round and summer residents whose mission is to build and encourage the Christian community. Previous speakers have been Anne Graham Lotz, Dan Reeves, Joni Eareckson Tada, and Stephen Baldwin. For more information on this year’s events should call 508-228-7537 or 508-257-4007.
