(BLACK PR WIRE) – MIAMI, FL – The “Who’s-Who” in South Florida will fill the room on May 26, 2011 at the inaugural Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) “Distinguished Young Leader”Awards. This highly anticipated event will be held at the fabulous Epic Hotel in Biscayne Bay. The event will feature a strolling supper and cocktail reception courtesy of GREY GOOSE Vodka that will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by an awards program at 7:30 p.m.

The “Distinguished Young Leader” Awards is part of TMCF’s regional “Award of Excellence” program, which honors deserving individuals across the country. Honorees are chosen based on their proven leadership, community involvement, professional and civic excellence, as well as their contributions to education and diversity.

The event’s Mistress of Ceremonies is Neki Mohan of ABC Local Channel 10. This year’s honorees include: Jeffrey S. Bartel, managing director, Hamptons Group, LLC, The Honorable Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Marlon Hill, Esq., partner, delancyhill, P.A., Calvin Hughes, news anchor, WPLG-ABC 10, Bacardi L. Jackson, Esq., Tucker Law Group, LLC, and Eve Wright, Esq., vice president and associate general counsel for the Miami HEAT.

“These community leaders serve as role models for the nearly 300,000 young men and women who are matriculating on our 47-member school campuses,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., TMCF’s President & CEO. “We acknowledge their efforts to continue to unite people of all ethnicities and backgrounds to ensure that educational opportunities are available for everyone.”

The First Annual “Distinguished Young Leader” Awards is the second of five regional events that will take place in 2011. The New Jersey “Awards of Excellence” event took place in Newark in March and future eventsinclude: Charlotte, Los Angeles, and Chicago. For sponsorship opportunities and ticket information, please contact: Mary V. Jones: mary.jones@tmcfund.org or call 201-227-8427 or Tiffany L. Jones: digitaldivasinc@gmail.com or 201-304-2933.

2011 Honorees

Jeffrey S. Bartel, Managing Director, Hamptons Group, LLC

Jeffrey S. Bartel is managing director of Hamptons Group, LLC, a private equity and venture capital investment and strategic consulting group based in South Florida. The company focuses on real estate development and real estate services, technology, energy and the telecommunications sectors.

The Honorable Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida

Wifredo A. Ferrer was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate on April 22, 2010 to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Marlon Hill, Esq.

Marlon A. Hill is a founding partner with the law firm of delancyhill, P.A. of Miami. He focuses his practice on general corporate, intellectual property, and international business transactions. His areas of experience also include immigration and governmental matters.

Calvin Hughes, News Anchor, WPLG-ABC 10

Calvin Hughes is an Emmy award-winning newscaster/ He co-anchors local 10’s 6p.m. and 11p.m. news with Laurie Jennings. He has enjoyed a 20-year television news career, working as an anchor/reporter in three of the nation's top 10 media markets, including Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Dallas.

Bacardi L. Jackson, Esq.

Bacardi Jackson is an attorney with the Tucker Law Group, LLC, an African-American-owned litigation-boutique law firm based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Miramar, FL. She serves as counsel and as the managing attorney for the firm’s Miramar office. As a trial and appellate attorney, her practice includes employment discrimination matters, personal injury, civil rights and constitutional claims as well as contractual and commercial disputes.

Eve Wright, Esq., Vice President and Associate General Counsel for the Miami HEAT

Eve Wright is the Vice President and Associate General Counsel for the Miami HEAT and the American Airlines Arena. In her position, she serves as an advisor on a wide variety of legal issues pertaining to marketing and promotions, concerts and events, corporate sales, merchandising initiatives, and player-related matters.

ABOUT THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice, was established in 1987. TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending our 47-member schools, which include public Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) and Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs). TMCF’s work is critical to guaranteeing our country a robust and diverse pipeline of talented workers and future leaders. TMCF achieves its vision of Changing the World . . . One Leader at a Time by focusing on three areas: Scholarships, Capacity Building & Programmatic Support, and Public Policy & Advocacy.