Special Presentation by Multi-Grammy Award Winner Usher
Actor-comedian Anthony Anderson, co-star of NBC's Guys With Kids, hosts the 34th annual UNCF An Evening of Stars® Educating our Future presented by Target. The show premieres nationwide on Saturday, January 26 (check local listings for stations and times) and airs on BET Networks on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 10:00 pm EST. The nationally televised variety show focuses public attention on America's need for more African American college graduates and UNCF's work getting students to and through college.
The show features Grammy-Award winner and founder of the New Look Foundation, Usher Raymond, presenting a four-year college scholarship to Milwaukee, Wisconsin high school senior, Ammon Lyle. Additionally, superstars Steve Harvey, Kevin Hart and Chaka Khan will present scholarships to deserving college and college-bound students.
Performances and appearances will be made by some of the hottest names in entertainment including Yolanda Adams, Charlie Wilson, Keyshia Cole, Trey Songz, Tyrese Gibson, Melanie Fiona, Eric Benet, Tracee Ellis Ross, Keenan Ivory Wayans and many more.
"I hope everybody tunes in and donates from the bottom of their hearts and the bottom of their pockets," said Anderson. "Unfortunately, over 60,000 students apply for scholarships and financial aid every year and UNCF is able to award scholarships to just 15,000 who need help going to college. That's why I'm a part of what UNCF is doing and I'm here for the long run."
UNCF, the country's largest and most effective minority education organization, supports the education of more than 60,000 students each year. A recent study by UNCF's Patterson Research Institute showed that UNCF's 38 member HBCUs out-perform many non-HBCUs at enrolling and graduating low-income students. UNCF's largeset scholarship program, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, has a 90 percent graduation rate among its 13,000 low-income minority students, a rate significantly higher than the national college graduation rate.
This year's show is made possible by Target, Presenting Sponsor; National Sponsor McDonald's; Official and Major Sponsors American Airlines, Wells Fargo, Buick, AT&T, the U.S. Army and Anheuser-Busch.
UNCF Unveils Masked Ball in Nation's Capital
WASHINGTON, DC - UNCF has announced its inaugural Washington, DC UNCF Mayor's Masked Ball to be held on February 12, 2013 at the JW Marriott. Proceeds from the event will support the education of the almost 4,000 students from the Washington metropolitan area who attend UNCF's 38 member HBCU institutions.
The Ball will open with a VIP reception for sponsors, general reception and silent auction followed by the signature Parade of Dignitaries, an elegant dinner, and the Parade of Masks. Dancing will follow with musical entertainment provided by Jeffrey Osborne.
UNCF has assembled an impressive list of business and civic leaders who will serve as the Inaugural Co-chairs including Washington couples Debbie and Ernie Jarvis and Dr. Dallas and DeDe Lea. "The mission of UNCF is more important than ever," states Ernie Jarvis. "This is truly a party with a purpose." The Jarvises are well known figures in Washington business and social circles with Debbi Jarvis serving as the Vice President, Corporate Citizenship and Social Responsibility at PEPCO Holdings, Inc. and Ernie Jarvis as Senior Vice President of First Potomac Realty.
The Leas are committed to making higher education an attainable goal for Washington area students. As one of the highest ranking women in corporate America, DeDe serves as Executive Vice President for Viacom and Dallas is Director of the Outpatient Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Program at National Rehabilitation Hospital.
Individual tickets are $500 and sponsorship opportunities are still available. For information, contact Meta Williams at 202.810.0332 or via email at Meta.Williams @ UNCF.org.
Source: Press Release/Photo: Getty Images