On Thursday, October 29th, 2009, the Council for Economic Education held its fourth-annual Visionary Awards dinner at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City.

The dinner brought together leaders in business, media, public service, and education to honor champions of economic empowerment in all of its many forms - from those who have raised awareness about the need for economic and financial literacy, to those who, having succeeded in their chosen field by using sound economic decision-making, have turned that success into good public works. The event was emceed by Sharon Epperson, Personal Finance Reporter for CNBC and CEE Board member, and Chaired by Craig Donohue, CEO of the CME Group, Inc. and Chairman of the CEE Board.

The event was attended by nearly 300 guests who took part in a celebration of the evening’s 5 remarkable honorees:

Visionary Awards were presented to:

ROGER FERGUSON

President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA-CREF and member of President Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board
Presented by Sue Herera, Anchor of “Power Lunch” on CNBC

CHARLES SCHWAB

Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Charles Schwab Corporation and Chairman of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy
Accepted by Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz

SUZE ORMAN

Two-Time Emmy Award-winning television host, author, magazine and online columnist, writer/producer, one of the top motivational speakers in the world today, named 18th on the Forbes list of The Most Influential Women In Media, and twice named as one of Time Magazine’s TIME 100
Presented by Suzy Welch, best-selling author and syndicated columnist

GARY STERN

President and Chief Executive Officer of The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and member of the Council for Economic Education’s Board of Directors
Presented by Craig Donohue, CEO of the CME Group, Inc.

KENNETH MENGANI

Economics teacher at the World Journalism Preparatory School in Flushing, NY, receiving the McGraw-Hill Teaching Champion award. The McGraw-Hill Teaching Champion Award honors a teacher of excellence in the field of K-12 economics and personal finance
Presented by Joseph Peri, Acting President and CEO of the CEE

Past Visionary Awards Honorees include:

• John Bogle, Founder of the Vanguard Group, prolific author, creator of the world's first index fund;
• James J. Cramer, Co-Founder, TheStreet.com; Host of CNBC's Mad Money with Jim Cramer;
• Bill Donaldson, 27th Chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission, Founder of Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette;
• Stephen Dubner, co-author of the bestseller, Freakonomics;
• Kathleen Kelley of Kingdon Capital and co-founder of High Water Women;
• Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies;
• John Whitehead, Chairman of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation;
• John W. Rogers, Jr., Founder, Chairman, CEO & Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments;
• Mary L. Schapiro, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
• Julie Stav, Co-Founder of Tu Dinero magazine, financial advisor and media personality.

Photos from the 2009 Visionary Awards