Merri Dee | Community | WGNTV.com | WGN TV

Merri Dee

Merri Dee, Director of Community Relations, celebrates more than 30 years at Chicago's WGN-TV. She serves as liaison between WGN-TV and community organizations, ensuring the station serves the needs of the diverse coverage areas and represents Tribune Company nationally.

This role enables her to oversee WGN's various public service campaigns, reaching over 56 million homes. As manager of WGN-TV Children's Charities, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, 25 million dollars have been raised and donated to organizations focusing on children's issues.

Dee began her career as a radio personality, quickly moved to WGN-TV as newscaster, Talk Show Host, Staff Announcer and Editorial Spokesperson.

Dee is known for her extensive charitable work in various communities and her commitment to social service. She is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and is in constant demand as a toastmistress, panelist moderator and fund-raising strategist while also hosting a variety of television specials.

Merri Dee has made the welfare of children waiting to be adopted in Illinois her pet project. Illinois' Governor recently commended Dee and WGN for increasing the number of adoptions in the State of Illinois over 50 percent. Most recently, she was selected by the U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services for the Adoption Excellene Award for her exceptional work and accomplishments in creating permanency for children who wait in foster care. A strong believer in education, Dee has hosted the United Negro College Fund's "Evening of Stars" 25 years, serving two years as the "volunteer" general chairman of the nationally televised event, assisting in raising over 30 million dollars for student scholarships.

She is one of the founders of "Athletes for a Better Education," where she worked with high school athletes, their parents, coaches, educators, and other sports representatives. Six of these athletes are professional basketball players, coaches or managers.

Dee is considered both unique and courageous because of her strength to survive gunshot wounds to the head when she and a television guest were kidnapped from the TV station. Lobbying state and city politicians, she assisted in the passage of Illinois' first Victims Bill of Rights legislation that has served as the model for the United States of America. Today she travels nationwide sharing her knowledge on how "A Victim Becomes a Survivor." She is the recipient of numerous awards, including:

"Outstanding Media Person," AT&T
"Outstanding Community Role Model," Kellogg's Corporation
"Volunteer of the Year Award," Chicago Board of Education
"The National Voice Award," Nat'l. Comm. to Prevent Child Abuse
"Adoption Activist" North American Council on Adoptable Children
"Adoption Spokesperson Award," the Adoption Information Center of Ill.; Child Care Assoc. of Ill., One Church One Child, and the Depart. of Children and Family Services
"Outstanding Leadership Award," YWCA of Metro. Chicago
"Woman of the Year," Today's Chicago Woman News
"Mercedes Mentor Award," Chicago Magazine "Community Service Award," National Baptist Institute
"Silver Circle," Chicago Academy of TV Arts and Sciences
"Lifetime Achievement Award," Univ. of Ill. Center on Women and Gender
"Gracie Allen Award" for Adoption Campaign, National Assoc. of American Women in Radio and TV
"Lewis University" , Humanities, Honorary Doctorate
"Rebuilding Children's Lives", Arden Shore Child & Family Services
"Trailblazer Award", Chicago Association of Black Journalists
"2002 Adoption Excellence Award", U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
"DANTE AWARD", Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans
"Living Legend Award", Infant Welfare Society
"History Maker Award", The National History Makers Association

Dee serves on the boards of several organizations including: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Associated Colleges of Illinois, Adoptions Unlimited, Junior Achievement, The Gateway Charitable Foundation, National Tree Trust Foundation, and the Chinese American Service League. She continues to serve on the Illinois Attorney General's Violent Crime Victims Commission and the States Attorney's Advisory Council on violence.