When Merri Dee, WGN-TV’s director of community relations and manager of the station’s Children’s Charities, came home Monday evening, she was greeted by a beautiful bouquet of roses from her husband, Nick Fulop, and a card which read: &l
When Merri Dee, WGN-TV’s director of community relations and manager of the station’s Children’s Charities, came home Monday evening, she was greeted by a beautiful bouquet of roses from her husband, Nick Fulop and a card that read: “Congratulations and welcome home!”
Fulop was reacting to his wife leaving WGN after 37 years, effective October 1, to serve as a consultant to a variety of businesses, from Fortune 500 companies to community organizations.
Over the years, Dee, 71, has held a number of high profile positions at WGN-TV, from newscaster and talk show host to staff announcer and editorial spokesperson, before moving into management and into her current position. She has hosted countless parades, telethons and TV specials, and shared camera time and stages with hundreds of well-known entertainers and celebrities. Dee is a recipient of many awards attesting to her broadcasting experience, including the Silver Circle Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Academy of TV Arts and Sciences.
Perhaps she is best known as host of the United Negro College Fund’s Evening of Stars for 30 years, serving two years as the volunteer general chairman of the nationally televised event. As manager of Children’s Charities, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, Dee has raised over $30 million for various children’s organizations in Chicago. She made the welfare of children waiting to be adopted in Illinois her personal project.
This adoption advocacy led her to receive many awards, including the Gracie Allen Award from the National Association of American Women in Radio and TV and the Adoption Excellence Award from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Dee says she will now have more time to serve as a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Women, a U.S. Army Ambassador appointed by the Pentagon and a member of the legislative executive council of AARP, consulting on various senior issues and health care. In fact, she’s off to Washington next week for a series of meetings.
In addition, her agenda includes plans to complete her yet unnamed autobiography within the next 12 months, fulfilling her continuing passion of speaking before young people and their organizations, and “just going out to play” with her family, which also includes her doting daughter and son-in-law, Toya and Kevin Campbell.
“WGN-TV and the city of Chicago have benefited greatly from Merri’s drive, talent and commitment,” said Marty Wilke, WGN-TV’s interim general manager. “While we are sad to see her leave us, we know that her new venture will be very successful.”
Theresa “Teesee” Fambro Hooks can be reached via e-mail at teesee@chicagodefender.com.
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