DMEF to Honor Lee Epstein at New York Awards Dinner on June 20

April 13, 2006 — The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) on Wednesday announced it will honor Lee Epstein, founder of Direct Marketers Gateway, Inc., with its Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to direct marketing education over the span of a career.

The award will be presented at DMEF’s Annual New York Awards Dinner on June 20 at the Bryant Park Grill in New York City during the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) 2006 DM Days New York Conference & Expo taking place June 20 – 22.

“Lee Epstein’s commitment to direct marketing education has been evident throughout his career, including his founding of Direct Marketers Gateway (DMG),” said Laurie Spar, vice president and general manager, DMEF. “We are pleased that he has been selected to receive this honor in recognition of all of his outstanding contributions to the DMEF. Certainly, DMG’s generous endowment will ensure the vitality and growth of both the direct marketing practice and of the Foundation.”

Epstein, who has been a loyal supporter of DMEF educational programs for more than two decades founded the nonprofit company, Direct Marketers Gateway, Inc. (formerly Direct Marketing Day Foundation), which awarded grants to colleges and universities through their marketing professors for student scholarships, teaching resources, career forums, the development of direct marketing graduate student programs and the funding of direct marketing libraries, among other programs. In 2005, DMG aligned with DMEF, and the Lee Epstein Fund was created as a DMEF Endowment Trust.

Epstein was a founder and chairman of the very successful nonprofit Direct Marketing Days in New York (DMDNY) until it was sold to the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) in 2003. From 1980 onward, DMDNY, sparked by his personal interest in students and their educational needs, contributed more then $3,000,000 to regional colleges and universities — first to teach marketing professors about direct marketing as a profitable means of distribution and sales, and then to grant scholarships to the ever-growing number of students enrolling in their classes.

During this time, Epstein was president and founder of MAILMEN Inc, a Long Island, NY-based volume lettershop.

Long considered one of the direct marketing community’s leaders, Epstein has been honored with a number of industry awards, including the DMEF’s Edward N. Mayer Educational Leadership Award, DMA’s Hall of Fame Award in 1996, and the DMA List Council List Leader of the Year Awards.

He has served as industry chairman of the Postmaster General’s Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC); member of DMA’s Government Affairs Committee; president, Mailing & Fulfillment Service Association; president & advisor of the Direct Marketing Club of New York (DMCNY); chairman of the Board of the Association for Postal Commerce (PostCom); co-chairman of the New York State Tax Committee on Direct Mail; and the CFO/Treasurer of the John Caples International Awards.

For information about the DMEF's June 20 awards dinner, which is sold-out, contact Laurie Spar at lspar@the-dma.org or 212.768.7277, ext. 1335.

The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) is an independent nonprofit organization headquartered in New York City. To bring direct and interactive marketing instruction to the college campus, attract new talent, and help students learn about direct marketing career opportunities, DMEF administers a broad range of programs for professors and students that strengthen direct marketing education. It publishes teaching resources, career information, and the academic research journal, Journal of Interactive Marketing. Established in 1965 and closely affiliated with DMA, DMEF is supported by tax-deductible contributions.

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