Maury Povich and Penn classmate Bonnie Squires (Class of '62) at ' induction into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame on Monday, May 1, at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing. Povich was the keynote speaker at the event. (Photo: Scott Weiner)

Philadelphia Jewish Voice Contributing Writer Honored

Philadelphia Public Relations Association awards Bonnie Squires.

The Philadelphia Public Relations Association presented its top honor, the Hall of Fame award, to expert communicator Bonnie Squires on Monday, May 1, 2006, at a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing. Journalist and Media Personality Maury Povich Delivered Keynote Address.

, who is president of

Consulting, a communications and fundraising firm in Wynnewood, PA, was joined by special guest Maury Povich of Weekends with Maury & Connie, on MSNBC. Povich, a friend

' and fellow University of Pennsylvania alumnus, delivered the keynote address, reminiscing about his time at Penn and his fond memories of being news anchor at the now-CBS affiliate in Philadelphia. A number of Povich's former colleagues at the station attended, and the crowd of 200 was very respectful. Povich credited

with having gotten him involved in Penn's alumni program, as well as development activities: Povich and wife Connie Chung sponsors scholarships at Penn for minority students.

Other distinguished guest speakers included David Brown, president of BrownPartners, and Madame Justice Sandra Schultz Newman of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Governor Ed Rendell and President H. Patrick Swygert of Howard University sent videotaped tributes to

.

Pat Ciarrocchi, CBS3 news anchor, and a former colleague of Povich's when he was a news anchor in Philadelphia at KYW-TV, introduced Povich.

Jeff Jubelirer, president of PPRA, called on Representative James R. Roebuck to present a citation to

on behalf of Senator Connie Williams.

is currently a co-host of a weekly hour-long call-in talk-show, Prism, on WHAT-AM (1340). She is a weekly columnist for the Main Line Times and several Jewish newspapers around the country. Her opinion pieces have appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer and dozens of local, regional and national newspapers. She also hosts Bonnie¹s Beat, a weekly cable television show in Radnor Township. 

is newsletter editor of the Class of '62 at the University of Pennsylvania. 

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Pennsylvania,

has a BS in Education and a master's degree in English Literature. She has pursued doctoral studies at Temple University and taught public relations at Arcadia and Drexel Universities. She resides with her husband Sami Ouahada in Wynnewood, PA. 

The PPRA Hall of Fame 

The PPRA Hall of Fame award honors a public relations professional who has brought honor, respect, acclaim and recognition to both our industry and our community. Since it¹s inception in 1972, 31 area professionals have been inducted into the Hall Fame. Each year Hall of Fame members review candidates for induction and vote one professional into the Hall of Fame. The annual luncheon welcomes the new member and celebrates the highest ideals of the public relations professional. 

The Philadelphia Public Relations Association, Inc. (PPRA) is the premiere association for public relations professionals in the Greater Philadelphia region. Founded in 1945, and with more than 350 members from all areas of the communications and public relations industry, PPRA is the nation¹s oldest and largest independent association of its kind. 

Past Features Around Our Community

• May 2006: Philadelphia Pride, Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg
• April 2006: Around Our Community
• March 2006: Successful Women, Israeli Film Festival
• February 2006: Delaware Gratz, Shul for Sale, Slots
• January 2006: Highland Parks Goes Egalitarian
• December 2005: Around Our Community
• November 2005: Around Our Community
• October 2005: Around Our Community
• September 2005: Around Our Communnity
• July 2005: Around Our Community