Jerry Friedman
Photographer / Author / Expert on Supercentenarians
Founder of Earth’s Elders Foundation, Jerry Friedman has spent the past seven years working
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Full Bio
Founder of Earth’s Elders Foundation, Jerry Friedman has spent the past seven years working on a landmark project to introduce the world to the sixty oldest people on earth. Through his globe-trotting journey to document their lives, Friedman has become the leading expert on supercentenarians, those who have lived 110 years or more. No one else in history has ever met and interviewed so many of the oldest people on earth.
An award-winning photographer, Friedman worked with worldwide advertising agencies Young and Rubicam, Ogilvy & Mather, Dentsu and Saatchi & Saatchi on print, magazine, and television. When an experience at a senior care center brought him face-to-face with the disenfranchisement of the elderly population, Friedman turned his eye to his camera. The initial idea was to capture portraits of the older residents, dictate their life story, and hopefully make these isolated people feel a sense of connection to the world. Using his lens to capture this community, Friedman shed new light on the invisible world of supercentenarians. His work provides an unprecedented look at the hearts, minds and spirits of these extreme elderly, and in the process, uncovers remarkable insights into health and the aging process.
Since the release of his book Earth’s Elders: The Wisdom of the World’s Oldest People, Friedman has been featured on CBS News Healthwatch, WNBC, Nite Beat, Tass, appeared on radio and in newspapers around the globe, and has spoken at colleges, universities, and local and national organizations. Earth’s Elders has been recognized with a major traveling show at the United Nations, at the Capitol rotunda in Washington DC, and with shows in New York, Boston, Tokyo and Amsterdam, and its two-part television program won an Emmy.
Inspired by the opportunity to improve the quality of life for the elderly, to teach children to recognize the wisdom and value of the elderly as essential parts of our families and our society, and to improve the health of our communities through intergenerational tolerance and communication, Friedman created the educational nonprofit organization, The Earth’s Elders Foundation.
Friedman also partnered with the prestigious Bank Street College of Education to create an educational curriculum that has been implemented in elementary and high school classrooms throughout the country and as far away as Australia. Through the intergenerational activities of the lessons, Friedman hopes homes and schools become living libraries for learning and communication among the generations.
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!
LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!
MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!
SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
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Earth’s Elders: The Wisdom of The World’s Oldest People
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