UNCF to celebrate its gala in December with Grammy Award winner

By From local reports
Published: October 22, 2009

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The United Negro College Fund will celebrate its 17th Annual Educational Excellence Gala, featuring Grammy Award-winner Jennifer Holliday, at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at Florence Civic Center.

The black-tie optional fundraising event provides support for the UNCF and its five member colleges and universities in South Carolina: Allen University, Benedict, Claflin, Morris and Voorhees colleges. The UNCF bills itself as the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization.

“Because a college education can open so many doors, UNCF works to ensure our future leaders have the opportunity to get the college degrees they need and deserve,” Willie Tabor, UNCF’s area development director, said in a press release. “The level of commitment in our community and this investment in future scientist, teachers, business owners, lawyers and doctors helps prepare young students to compete in an ever changing global economy.”

Holliday, a Tony Award and two-time Grammy Award-winning actress, will provide entertainment during this year’s gala, which boasts more than 950 attendees annually and provides an opportunity for corporate sponsors, small businesses, groups, churches and individuals to support the mission of UNCF while enjoying an evening of fine dining, entertainment and dancing.

The event also provides a chance for UNCF to recognize and pay tribute to special donors, students, college presidents, friends and dignitaries.

Since its inception, the gala has generated more than $1 million in support of the South Carolina overall goal and has helped students from Florence and surrounding areas attend and graduate from college.

This year’s honorary co-chairs are Melody Birmingham-Byrd, vice president at Progress Energy, and Pete Mazzaroni, manager of public affairs for Roche Carolina. Retired educator Dr. Allie E. Brooks Jr., McLeod Health Associate Vice President Sandra H. DuRant and Florence-Darlington Technical College Special Assistant to the President Jill D. Heiden are corporate co-chairs. J. Lawrence Smith, president and director of Smith Funeral Home LLC in Florence, is the UNCF area coordinator.

Past sponsors include Honda of South Carolina Manufacturing Inc., Sonoco foundation, Progress Energy, McLeod Health, ESAB, and Roche Carolina just to name a few. Sponsorship opportunities at $10,000, $5,000, $3,500 and $1,500 are available. Individual tickets are $100.

For more information, call Smith at (843) 662-7192 or Tabor at (404) 302-8623, ext. 8505.