Patel is president of Diplomat Companies, which operates numerous hotels in the southeastern United States, plus he serves as chairman of the board for three community banks in Georgia and Florida which he helped found with his brother R.C.

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is awarded to outstanding Americans who have distinguished themselves as citizens of the United States and have enabled their ancestry groups to maintain their identities while becoming integral parts of American life.

This year's 100 recipients will include: - former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell -- General Duncan J. McNabb, Vice Chief of Staff for the U.S. Air Force - human rights activist and genocide survivor Jacqueline Murekatete --- Randy Owen, lead singer of the country music group -Alabama - best-selling author and health expert Dr. Mehmet Oz - Dan Rooney, owner of the NFL?s Pittsburgh Steelers - Gary Sinese, actor and founder of "Operation Iraqi Children" - Olympian and motivational speaker Louis Zamperini

Honorees will receive their awards at the annual ceremony filled with patriotic pageantry at Ellis Island followed by a gala reception in Ellis Island's Great Hall. The evening's events will be capped by a spectacular fireworks display in New York Harbor. "Mike Patel joins a prestigious list of Americans who are being honored for fostering goodwill and for making their communities and the world a better place," said Rosemarie Taglione, Executive Director of the National Ethnic Coalition.

Added Nasser J. Kazeminy, NECO Chairman: "Mike exemplifies the American Dream. Born in Uganda, educated in England, and now living proudly as a citizen of the United States, he sees opportunity in every problem - and in the process he brings those opportunities into the lives of all those around him."

Patel currently serves on numerous boards and advisory committees, notably the Board of Counselors of The Carter Presidential Center and the board of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

In 2000, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, while in 1998-99 he served as chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), one of the hotel industry's most influential groups.

In June of 2007, British Prime Minister Tony Blair presented Mike with the Award for International Cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom which saluted his "commitment and contributions to improving relations between ethnic communities around the world, notably the U.S., the U.K., and India."

Established in 1986 by NECO, the Ellis Island Medals of Honor pay tribute to the many ancestry groups that comprise America's unique cultural mosaic. To date, more than 1,000 American citizens have received medals, including former Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon; Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court William Rehnquist; Muhammad Ali; Rosa Parks; Elie Wiesel; Frank Sinatra; Bob Hope; and Quincy Jones.

Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients are selected each year through a national nomination process. Screening committees from NECO's member organizations select the final nominees, who are then considered by the Board of Directors. Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have officially passed resolutions recognizing the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, which rank among this country's most prestigious awards. Each year, Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients are listed in the Congressional Record, honoring those who have made enduring contributions to our nation and to the world.

NECO's mission is to create the world of the future today, by honoring our diverse past, advocating for positive change in the present, and building strong leaders for the future. The foundation partners with a wide variety of organizations, both national and international. It supports diverse ethnic cultural events, sponsors life-saving surgery for children, assists emergency relief efforts worldwide, and produces educational materials and programs that mentor youth to become the leaders of tomorrow. NECO continues its long-standing commitment to Ellis Island, supporting the ongoing restoration of its educational facilities. For a full list of the 2008 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Awardees, go to www.NECO.org.

CONTACT: Peter G. Mathon/ P. R. Counsel for Diplomat Companies/ 404-814-1011