About Dick Robinson

Dick Robinson, in addition to being a radio and TV personality, is President of Robinson Media, which has owned New England radio stations and Robinson Media Satellite Division. Dick is Founder and former Chairman of Connecticut School of Broadcasting, the nation's oldest and largest group of communication schools, with 13 locations.

Dick also hosts "Dick Robinson's American Standards by the Sea," an internationally syndicated two-hour radio show which blends the artistry and interviews of the greats like Sinatra, Bennett, Basie, Fitzgerald, Torme, Damone, Keely Smith, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Buddy Greco, Ann Hampton Callaway, Jack Jones, Cleo Laine, Diane Shuur, Michael Feinstein, and Diana Krall. The show is broadcast from Dick Robinson's hand-designed, high-tech radio and TV studio on board Robinson Media's Motor Yacht, "Airwaves," which is docked at different ports from Maine to the Bahamas throughout the year. The show, which can be seen and heard 24-7 on "yachtamusic.com" also airs on great radio stations coast-to-coast and beyond. As a high note, Dick was recently inducted into the Big Band Hall of Fame.

In the Palm Beaches, Dick Robinson is President of the American Heart Association, Vice President of Ballet Florida, on the Board of the American Cancer Society, Angels of Charity, Palm Beach Pops, and Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts. This past season, besides receiving the Mental Health Association's first-ever Margaret C. Donnelley Financial Development Award, he was Co-Chairman of the Mental Health Ball and Salvation Army Gala as well as Co-Chairman of the Simon Wiesenthal Centers 2002 event featuring keynote speaker Brian Michael Jenkins, world-renowned terrorist expert. His topic: Terrorism vs. Humanity. Dick is also Vice President/Communications of Shaare Zedek Hospital and an underwriter of Palm Beach charity fund-raisers including Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club, Friends of Abused Children, Adopt-A-Family, Children's Home Society, and Bascom-Palmer, to name a few. In addition, Dick was this year's Co-Chairman of the Simon C. Fireman/Dick Robinson Golf Classic benefiting The Hanley Center for which radio and TV personality Don Imus served as Honorary Chairman. Dick is also a member of the International Society of Palm Beach and the Alexis de Tocqueville Society (Community Chest-United Way).

In Connecticut, Dick Robinson was also appointed to the CEO Advisory Council of Community Health Charities of Connecticut and remains an involved past President, still serving on the Board of the Hundred Club of Connecticut. The Hundred Club of Connecticut is a charitable, nonprofit organization chartered in 1967 for the specific purpose of assisting the families of police officers, firefighters, and correction officers who lose their lives in the line of duty.

LIFE Honors American veterans disabled for life

As a board member of the Board of LIFE, Dick Robinson was invited by LIFE Foundation Founder Lois Pope to host the "American Veterans Disabled for Llife Gala" with actor Gary Sinise at the Pierre Hotel in NYC in 2006. Sinise, known for his role as a disabled war veteran in "Forrest Gump" and currently in "CSI New York," is a national spokesman for the Disabled Veterans Memorial.

On his TV and radio shows, Dick saluted Lois Pope's LIFE Foundation dedicated to the building of the nation's only American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, DC. Over 800,000 folks-- listeners, viewers, friends and corporation-- have joined in the fundraising effort toraise over $25 million for the $65 million project.

WXEL FM and TV's "Man of the Year" is also the Garnet Society's Gem

WXEL 90.7 FM (NPR) carries "Dick Robinson's American Standards by the Sea" on Sundays, 3 to 5 PM, and WXEL TV (PBS) airs "Dick Robinson's Music by the Sea" on Saturdays at 6:30 PM.

As President of the Garnet Society (the fundraising arm) of WXEL, Dick Robinson passionately believes in local radio and TV fundraising and has proven its power again and again. Besides financial funding, The Robinson Media Group has contributed a number of popular posessions for WXEL's Auction in the past-- from a 1979 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith II to his 1975 Steinway & Sons model M piano-- played by artists of the Great American Songbook who have visited with the Robinsons over the years, and all proceeds benefited WXEL TV and Radio.

Friends of Dick Robinson have also tossed coins into WXEL's fountain like Vic Damone who once strode onto the set frombehind the scenes and suprised Dick, during WXEL's live auction, with a personal donaltion of thousands of dollars. To "pay it forward," WXEL's Garnet Society presented Vic Damone with the first-ever Legends Award. At emcee Dick Robinson's Request, Vic Damone "gave back" to his adoring audience and sang a trio of his favorite songs.

This year, Dick Robinson was honored as "WXEL Man of the Year" at its "Keeping the Legends Alive in a New York State of Mind" event. It's the kind of stuff legends are made of.

"The Master's" Plan: A Sold-out Dick Robinson Golf Classic times ten

The Tiger Woods of broadcasting, Dick Robinson, a well-know broadcaster, is no golfer; in fact, the only cart he knows is the one that's inserted into a cart machine. Even still, a golf tournament, named the Dick Robinson Golf Classic benefiting the Hanley Center, recently teed off for its 10th time at Old Palm Golf Course in Palm Beach Gardens.

Classic players who returned for a tenth tour of the fairways included Co-Chairs Heather Lyons, and Richard Hellawell, retired CEO of Braman Motorcars; International Honorary Chairman, the late Lawrence De George; radio and TV personality Don Imus, serving as Honorary International Celebrity Chair; Terry Lehman, VP, Development, for the Hanley Center Foundation; sponsors Vince Cerone, Braman Motorcars General Manager; Herme de Wyman Miro, Founder of the International Society of Palm Beach; the Hanley Family and so many friends and hard-working staff at Hanley who "putt" this fundraising event together for the past decade.

The Dick Robinson Prevention Center at Hanley Center is named for Dick Robinson, also Co-Chair of Hanley Center Foundation Capital Campaign.

How sweet it is for juvenile diabetes

In an unprecedented move, Dick Robinson, in anticipation of increasing awareness and contributions, brought his long-time friend as headliner of the 2004 Juvelile diabetes ball. Keely Smith's popularity, talent, and appeal were just the ticket to draw newcomers to the event. Dick and Sally Robinson, serving as gala chairman, raised a record-breaking $1.9 million in one night that year.

January heralded the 2005Juvenile Diabetes Ball where Dick and Sally, again as Co-Chairs, arranged for Al Martino to perform with the Michael Rose Orchestra, and the legendary Mary Tyler Moore, Honorary Chairman, appeared for another blockbuster event. When the closing bell rang on this year's Gem of an Evening Gala and the total funds-- thanks to Lawrence and Florence DeGeorge, Simon Fireman, Barry Kaye, Elizabeth Bowden, and other friends-- were tallied, $2.3 million sparkled like jewels.

For 2006, Dick brought in singers Debbie Boone and Jack Jones. The Robinsons had been Gala Chairmen for three consecutive years, and under their tutelage, over $5 million has been raised for the Juvenile Diabetes Rsearch Foundation.

Tugging at the heart purse strings

Dick Robinson made his mark on expanding charity pocketbooks by upping the auction item ante in 2001. It wasn't by coincidence, rather by sheer calculation, that Dick Robinson, then President of the Palm Beach Heart Association, and his wife, Sally, who chaired the 2001 and 2005 Heart Balls, raised nearly $1 million donataed mainly from individuals rather than corporations. What made that year unique was Dick's bid, the highest price paid for an auction item (a new Bentley Arnage courtesy of Vince Cerone and Braman Motorcars) in Palm Beach charity gala history ($216,000).

Palm Beach Pops maestro Bob Lappin said of his friend of over 40 years, "The more money Dick makes, the more he gives away."

Cruising and crooning with Cap'n Crunch

After Dick and Jack Jones recorded the radio show "Dick Robinson's American Standards by the Sea" (WXEL 90.7 FM, Sunday 3-5 pm) and television program "Dick Robinson's Music By The Sea" (WXEL TV, Saturday, 6:30 pm) in the Motor Yacht's radio and TV studios below, Jack Jones and Dick stand on the bridge of Dick's MY Airwaves enjoying the sights of New York City that include a million dollar view of the Statue of Liberty. Earlier, Jack Jones docked Airwaves at the marina in New York City without crunching the bow. The real Captain and crew nervously looking on.

 

The Hundred Club's efforts worth a million dollars

In Connecticut, Dick Robinson remains an involved past President, still serving on the Board of the Hundred Club of Connecticut.

The Hundred Club of Connecticut is a charitable, nonprofit organization chartered in 1967 for the specific purpose of assisting the families of police officers, firefighters, and correction officers who lose their lives in the line of duty. The Club, through its staff and Directors, maintains a quiet assessment of family needs and, when necessary, provides help in meeting unexpected expenses and pressing obligations that can overwhelm the family. The hundred Club is a unique organization whose members give unselfishly of their time and financial support, going about their work quietly, not seeking or wanting recognition. The tragic events of September 11th 2001 brought home the importance of the help and support given to families of dedicated police officers, firefighters and correction officers who have made the supreme sacrifice.

Dick Robinson is truly proud of the unwavering efforts of the fire and police departments and doesn't take for granted the lives saved by these great men and women.