Lyne Pitts Honored in New York

Video from Gala

NEW YORK (May 7, 2013) — Lyne Pitts, an accomplished television producer and writer, and wife of ABC News journalist Byron Pitts, was honored today by the Stuttering Foundation, the world’s leading charitable organization helping those who stutter. The event, held in New York City, celebrated National Stuttering Awareness Week.

“Lyne Pitts is such an inspiration and a wonderful role model for the entire stuttering community,” said Jane Fraser, president of the Stuttering Foundation. “As we all witnessed in the The King’s Speech, a strong and supportive spouse can be such an incredible asset to people who stutter. We know that the role of family, and particularly that of the spouse of a person who stutters can be critical.

“Byron loves to tell people he ‘married up’ – no doubt heralding Lyne’s role as supportive wife, loving mother of five children, experienced producer and accomplished writer. They are clearly partners in life who bring out the best in each other, and set a wonderful example for us all to follow.”

For the example she sets for others to follow, Ms. Fraser presented Mrs. Pitts with the Stuttering Foundation’s “Converting Awareness into Action” award for her contributions to the stuttering community.

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author. He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont.

His love for animals began when he was very young.

Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Martin, the basketball sensation who was named to the NBA’s All Star Team in 2004, joins other famous people who stutter in a new brochure. The brochure - which unfolds into a small poster - is available free of charge from The Stuttering Foundation.

The poster is intended to give children and adults who stutter inspiration as they grapple with their speech disorder.

Ken Venturi

As much of the nation watches the U.S. Open Golf Championship, it is impossible not to think about our late friend Ken Venturi. Ken overcame many challenges to win the Open at Congressional in 1964 and go on to become the voice of golf for more than three decades.

However, Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi was a champion to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.

Byron Pitts

Byron Pitts has brought much attention to stuttering with his memoir, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges, released in September, 2009. The book not only details his speech difficulties, but also his illiteracy until age 12 and his unstable family life. Pitts overcame the odds to become the chief national correspondent with ABC News.

Carly Simon

Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old.