Dear Abby

“Dear Abby” is the most popular newspaper columnist in the world. Her column appears in more than 1400 newspapers and is read by more than 110 million people each day. The column has long been a symbol of trust, compassion and straightforward honesty for a worldwide readership. “Dear Abby” receives more than 10,000 letters and e-mails a week. The daughter of Abigail Van Buren, the creator of “Dear Abby,” she worked on the column for many years with her mother until Van Buren’s retirement, after which she assumed her mother’s pen name.

“Dear Abby” says, “I was raised to appreciate the importance of giving back to the community, of ‘healing the world.’ It’s something I learned from my mother, who founded the column in 1956, and with whom I worked for decades. It gave me a unique perspective of how problems can take a toll on people’s lives.”

It is hard to imagine a topic that hasn’t appeared in “Dear Abby.” The column has spotlighted domestic abuse, crimes against children, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide prevention. It has promoted the rights of gays and lesbians, people with disabilities, the mentally ill, and raised cancer and diabetes awareness. “Abby” has also promoted sex education, volunteerism, child safety and pet safety, and recently completed a television public service announcement for the Alzheimer’s Association.

A frequent guest on “Larry King Live” and popular interview subject for newspapers, magazines and radio, with a caring heart, clever wit and rock-solid advice, “Abby” will entertain and educate any audience.

She has received awards of appreciation from the U.S. General Services Administration and the Pentagon for the success of OperationDearAbby.net, through which readers have sent more than two million individually-written electronic messages of support to all branches of the U.S. military worldwide.

Other awards include: The Generations of Choice Award from Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles, The Key of Life Award and Award of Excellence from Howard University, recognition from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Outstanding Non-Member Award from Ex-Prisoners of War, Golden Triangle Award from the American Academy of Dermatology, a Commendation from the National Fire Protection Association and the Erasing the Stigma Award from the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Center, to name a few.