Founder Norman Lear Tax ID no. 52-1366721 | Type Advocacy group Focus Progressive advocacy | |
 | ||
Founded September 4, 1980; 36 years ago (1980-09-04) Legal status 501(c)(4) social welfare organization | ||
People for the american way inception psa 1980
People For the American Way (PFAW) is a progressive advocacy group in the United States. Organized as a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, PFAW was founded in 1981 by television producer Norman Lear. Lear founded the organization in 1980 to challenge the Moral Majority.
Contents
- People for the american way inception psa 1980
- Norman lear and j j abrams people for the american way foundation 30th anniversary event
- History
- Activities
- Leadership
- Funding
- References
Norman lear and j j abrams people for the american way foundation 30th anniversary event
History
PFAW was founded by television producer Norman Lear in opposition to the highly publicized agenda of the Moral Majority, a formerly prominent and influential American political organization associated with the Christian right. Officially incorporated on September 4, 1980, its co-founders included Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and Time Inc. chairman and CEO Andrew Heiskell. PFAW began as a project of the Tides Foundation, a donor-advised fund that directs money to politically liberal causes.
Former presidents of PFAW include Tony Podesta and Ralph Neas.
Soon after its founding, PFAW launched an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization, People for the American Way Foundation, for the purpose of conducting more extensive educational and research activities for left-wing causes. Later, the People For the American Way Voter Alliance was launched as a political action committee.
Activities
PFAW monitors what it characterizes as "right-wing" activities. Toward this end, the organization sponsors a website called Right Wing Watch, which showcases video footage of groups and individuals who take conservative stances on social issues.
In 2014, Jason and David Benham lost the opportunity to host their own HGTV television show after Right Wing Watch labeled the brothers as "anti-gay, anti-choice extremists" because of their statements at various events about homosexuality. In response, David Benham said: "We love all people. I love homosexuals. I love Islam, Muslims, and my brother and I would never discriminate. Never have we -- never would we."
PFAW has been active in battles over judicial nominations, opposing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork and supporting the nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court of Sonia Sotomayor. PFAW is also active in federal elections, donating $339,874 to oppose Republican candidates in the 2014 election cycle.
Leadership
Michael Keegan is the organization's president. Members of the group's board of directors include John Hall Buchanan, Jr., Alec Baldwin, Seth MacFarlane, Mary Frances Berry, Julian Bond (deceased), Bertis Downs IV, James Hormel, Dolores Huerta, Jane Lynch, Josh Sapan, Dennis Van Roekel, Howie Klein and Reg Weaver.
Funding
Major donors to PFAW include George Soros' Open Society Institute, the Miriam G. and Ira D. Wallach Foundation, the Bauman Foundation, and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.