Urban League of Philadelphia hosts the 10th Whitney M. Young Empowerment Awards
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<p>Former board members of the Urban League of Philadelphia Andrea Custis (left), and Irene Hannan of Citizens Bank (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker)</p>
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<p>Volunteer award winner Darryl Anderson of Lee Hecht Anderson (center) with his family (from left) sisters Michelle Anderson Lee and Brenda Diggs, and his wife Jan Anderson (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker)</p>
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<p>Rev. Tamieka N. Moore of Tenth Memorial Baptist Church with former colleague and Urban League board member Rev. Kevin Johnson of Bright Hope Baptist Church (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker) </p>
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<p>Winner of the Urban Leader Under 40 Award, Monica Burch of PNC Bank (right), with colleague Kezirah Vaughters (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker)</p>
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<p>Trish Lawrey (left), of CIGNA Corporation, a luncheon sponsor, and colleague Shawnicque Kent, a graduate of the Urban League of Philadelphia’s 2010 class of the Urban Leadership Forum (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker)</p>
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<p>Ann O’Brien Schmeig of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania (left), Sarah Martinez-Helfman of Eagles Youth Partnership, Bob Nelson of OIC, and United Way president and CEO Jill Michal (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker)</p>
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<p>Steven Curtis, president of Community College of Philadelphia, and Michelle Howard-Vital, president of Cheney University. Both institutions partner with the Urban League of Philadelphia in education initiatives. (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker)</p>
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<p>Urban League board chair, Robert Keyes of Enterprise Holdings, Empowerment Award winner and president of United Bank of Philadelphia Evelyn Smalls, Urban League president and CEO Patricia A. Coulter, Renee Chenault Fattah of NBC10 (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker)</p>
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<p>Sara Lomax Reese, president of WURD Radio, interviews Harold Epps of PRWT Services, winner of the Business Leader Award at the luncheon (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker)</p>
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<p>William R. Hite, Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, is “pinned” by Urban League of Philadelphia CEO Patricia A. Coulter, making him an official Urban Leaguer. Hite was the keynote speaker at the luncheon. (Photo courtesy of Paul Coker)</p>
Brought to you by Freemans Auctioneers, The Circuit, with Caroline Stewart, takes you to the Loews Philadelphia Hotel for The Urban League of Philadelphia held its 10th Whitney M. Young Empowerment Awards luncheon. Become a regular of our new blog to keep up with the hottest philanthropic events.
The Urban League of Philadelphia held its 10th Whitney M. Young Empowerment Awards Luncheon Dec. 4 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Nearly 480 guests attended the event, which raised $89,000 for the nonprofit.
ULP president Patricia A. Coulter and board chair Bobby Keyes presented awards to five individuals and businesses who were recognized for their volunteerism and leadership in the African American community. Monica Burch of PNC received the Urban Leader Under 40 Award, Darryl Anderson of Lee Hecht Harrison won the Volunteer Award, and Harold Epps of PRWT Services was presented with the Business Leader Award. Also honored were State Farm and United Bank of Philadelphia.
William R. Hite, superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, was the luncheon’s keynote speaker. Hite’s talk revolved around the importance of engaging the city’s at-risk students.
“Only 57 percent earn high school diplomas in four years,” said Hite. “Only about half are reading and doing math on grade level.” Despite these statistics, “We have to expect from all our young people that they can do anything.”
A highlight of the luncheon was the announcement by Aramark executive Dennis Maple that Aramark was joining IBC/AmeriHealth and Comcast/NBCUniversal as the third title sponsor for the 2013 National Urban League Conference to be held in Philadelphia July 24-27. The conference, expected to draw about 8,000 conventioneers, will be community-focused with many activities open to the public, including a marketplace to showcase local businesses and a jobs fair.
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