Wednesday’s 33rd Annual Walter Kaitz Foundation dinner raised nearly $1.7 million as the pay TV industry honored A+E Networks and the National Association of Independent Latino Producers (NALIP) for their efforts to foster diversity, NCTA said today. Money raised by the Kaitz dinner supports the Emma L. Bowen Foundation, the National Association of Multi-ethnicity in Communications and Women in Cable Telecommunications.  

A+E Networks CEO Nancy Dubuc accepted the Diversity Champion award for the programmer’s efforts to promote women and minorities in leadership roles. The programmer, which includes networks like History Channel, Viceland and Lifetime, has used its influence – it reaches 330 million TV watchers worldwide and 500 million digital users – to touch on topics like racial diversity and sexuality. History’s remake of Roots was a success this year and brought the groundbreaking story of slavery and individuality to a whole new generation. At Viceland, programs like travel documentary Gaycation explore sexual orientation and the cultural dynamics of foreign LGBTQ communities.  

NALIP executive director Axel Caballero accepted the Diversity Advocate award for the organization, which was formed 17 years ago to advance the professional interests of Latino content creators.

Under Caballero, who joined NALIP three years ago, the organization has expanded its outreach by creating “incubators,” a series of initiatives that allow Latino content creators to gather together, share their best work, network and receive training that take their careers to the next level. Combined with NALIP’s array of mentorship programs, media summits and showcases which bring together key players in the cable, media and entertainment worlds, the organization has expanded the meaning of what being a producer means.

The dinner, held at the New York Marriott Marquis (the theme was Inclusion. Impact. Inspiration) on Sept. 21, was hosted by CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield. The dinner committee was headed by Turner Broadcasting System chairman and CEO John Martin and Charter Communications chairman and CEO Tom Rutledge.