text="<TABLE CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0><TR><TD align=left valign=top class='text'><B>At the White House</B><BR><BR><BR><BR></TD></TR><TR><TD align=left valign=top><IMG SRC='IMAGES/1.jpg' BORDER=0><BR><BR></TD></TR><TR><TD align=left valign=top class='text'><SPAN CLASS='caption'>Pictured in the Blue Room at the White House are (from left): David Burney, New York City Housing Authority; David Swift and Charles Jones, Whirlpool Corporation; Laura Bush; Dan Kiley; Paul Thompson; and Geoffrey Beene.</SPAN><BR><BR><BR>Distinguished by an ongoing relationship with The White House, the National Design Awards were officially launched in 2000 at a ceremony and reception in the East Room. The national significance of the Awards was recognized by their designation as an official White House Millenium Council Project.  Both recent First Ladies have served as Honorary Patrons of the Awards, Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2000 and Laura Bush in 2002 and 2003. Although the tragic events of September 11 prevented a White House event in honor of that year's awardees, Senator Charles E. Schumer generously agreed to serve as Honorary Chair and presented a moving address at the 2001 Awards ceremony. In July 2002, the Awards returned to The White House to honor 2001 and 2002 winners and finalists and to announce the 2002 honorees at a reception hosted by Laura Bush. <BR><BR>'This year's National Design Awards give us an opportunity to celebrate the talented innovators and visionaries who shape and influence the way we experience our world,' said Mrs. Bush at the reception. 'I want to commend Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum for recognizing America's dedicated design artists and patrons.'</TD></TR></TABLE>";