About the Film

Starting this October, PBS stations will air a one-hour documentary on the life and times of The Honorable John W. Gardner, co-founder of INDEPENDENT SECTOR, and one of our nation’s foremost thinkers.

JOHN GARDNER: UNCOMMON AMERICAN shows Gardner’s unheralded influence on the course of the second half of the 20th century: as president of Carnegie Corporation, co-founder of INDEPENDENT SECTOR, founder of Common Cause, chairman of the National Urban Coalition, counselor to five presidents, and vigorous advocate for social action and national renewal. 

The film was produced by the Twenty-First Century Initiative (a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC) and narrated by Richard Dreyfuss. JOHN GARDNER: UNCOMMON AMERICAN has been made possible by the support of many IS members, including the Carnegie Corporation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the Miriam and Peter Haas Fund, the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr., Fund, the James Irvine Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. 

To order your copy of JOHN GARDNER: UNCOMMON AMERICAN please call toll-free, 888-860-8118. 

INDEPENDENT SECTOR presents the John W. Gardner Leadership Award, honoring individuals who build, mobilize, and unify people, institutions, or causes. Now in its 18th year, the award is named for The Honorable John W. Gardner—American statesman and founding chairperson of INDEPENDENT SECTOR. Send in your nomination for the 2002 John W. Gardner Leadership Award. 

Deadline for nominations is January 31, 2002. 

View highlights from this year's Annual Conference and the presentation of the 2001 John W. Gardner Leadership Award to, Rebecca Adamson, founder and president of the First Nations Development Institute.  

Scheduled Airings

A partial listing as of October 23, 2001. To learn more about the film or for upcoming airings in your area visit, www.pbs.org/johngardner.