VIRTUAL GALA COMMEMORATES NYUL’S CENTENNIAL OF SERVICE, HONORING SPORTS LEGEND HANK AARON, NORTHWELL PRES/CEO MICHAEL DOWLING, FORMER CITIGROUP VICE CHAIRMAN RAYMOND J. MCGUIRE AND DANIEL SCHULMAN, PRES/CEO OF PAYPAL

(Black PR Wire) NEW YORK – The New York Urban League (NYUL) will commemorate its Centennial Anniversary at the 55th Annual Frederick Douglass Awards Virtual Gala on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Civil rights activist, business leader and political advisor Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. is the Honorary Chair. Legendary sportsman Hank Aaron, Michael Dowling (President and CEO, Northwell), Raymond J. McGuire (former Vice Chairman, Citigroup), and Daniel Schulman (President and CEO, PayPal) will receive NYUL’s most coveted honor – the Frederick Douglass Award. Film producer and social justice advocate Crystal McCrary will receive the Ann Kheel award, named for the civic leader and founder of the Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner. The Honorary Committee includes Billye Suber Aaron, Harry Belafonte, Hon. Bill Bradley, The late Hon. David N. Dinkins, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Spike Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee, David Winfield, Hal Steinbrenner, Deborah Willis, Naomi Campbell, Bethann Hardison, Cole Anthony and Ella Anthony.

The evening starts with a reception at 6:30 pm followed by the program at 7 pm.

A special performance will be offered by celebrated Jazz artist Keyon Harrold, whose recent family experience with racial profiling, covered by news outlets around the country, underscores the inherent value and necessity for the work of NYUL. MC Lyte is spinning for the AfterParty.

NYUL continually challenges existing inequities of our society. As one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the nation, NYUL’s work in the areas of economic development, education and advocacy have impacted generations of underserved New Yorkers. Gala sponsorships assist NYUL’s COVID-19 and educational response efforts, provides resources and virtual programming to those affected by COVID-19 and support NYUL’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which offers grants to students and families in NYUL’s employment and youth services and other much-needed programs. The Centennial Gala will also raise funds to support new and expanded programming and community services to further the League’s mission and fund Whitney M. Young, Jr. Scholarships. Corporate sponsorships range from $4,000 to $100,000. Individual tickets begin at $2500; and virtual journal advertising at $5000.

To learn more about NYUL and sponsorship opportunities, please visit the gala website. You can also email event producer Dwight Johnson Design at info@dwightjohnsondesign.com or call 212.926.8000 ext. 117. https://www.nyul.org/event-info/frederick-douglass-centennial-gala

“As our City and nation rise to the challenges of COVID-19, racism, and economic uncertainty, the New York Urban League's work is more vital than ever before,” says Arva R. Rice, president and CEO of the New York Urban League. “In our first century of fighting for social justice and racial equality, we have helped more than one million people achieve their potential. In this next century, we aim to improve upon that footprint and increase our engagement.” In April 2020, NYUL launched a COVID-19 Family Relief Fund to provide cash grants to families and college students to uplift those affected by the pandemic. In addition, NYUL is launching a Small Business Center to support African American  business owners hit by the epidemic and creating a Diversity Lab to help corporations better reflect and serve the communities in which they do business.

“The 55th Annual Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner Gala will enable us to commemorate our Centennial while acknowledging an esteemed roster of honorees who have a steadfast commitment and dedication to influence change and by advancing the rights of generations of African Americans. We salute their seminal work in empowering communities and changing lives,” said Ward Corbett, Board Chair, New York Urban League.

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