National Urban League Honors Cicely Tyson with Arts Award at 57th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner

New York, NY (November 13, 2013) – The National Urban League will hold its 57th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner tonight, Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.  The National Urban League’s Annual Equal Opportunity Day Award is the highest commendation presented by the organization to those individuals and corporations that demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunity and exhibit leadership for the cause of equal rights.  This year at the dinner, Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, will present actress, philanthropist and advocate Cicely Tyson with the Arts Award for her tremendous achievements in the area of arts and culture.

 

“The people and organizations that we honor at the Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner exemplify the National Urban League’s commitment to service and the revitalization of communities across America,” said Morial.  “This year’s recipients display extraordinary leadership encouraging empowerment in all aspects of our society.” 

 

The National Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner is being chaired this year by David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation.   The National Urban League is currently partnered with Comcast Corporation to promote access to broadband in underserved communities.  David Ushery, anchor/reporter & host of the Debrief with David Ushery, NBC4 New York, and Caroline Clarke, executive editor/host of Black Enterprise and the Black Enterprise Business Report, will serve as MCs for the evening.

 

Additional highlights are as follows:

 

-       Gregory D. Wasson, President and CEO, Walgreen Co. (via video) and Steve Pemberton, Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion, Walgreen Co. will accept the Corporate Leadership Award for Walgreen’s generous support of the National Urban League’s efforts to provide critical resources and information about health disparities that permeate urban communities nationwide.

 

-       Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President and CEO, TIAA-CREF, will receive the Leadership Award for demonstrating exemplary leadership as one of the top corporate executives in America.

 

-       John D. Hofmeister, Founder and CEO, Citizens for Affordable Energy, will receive the President’s Award for his high standard of leadership and commitment to service as Chair of the National Urban League board of trustees.

 

-       Kurt M. Landgraf, President and CEO, Education Testing Service, will receive a Special Award for improving quality and equity in education for underrepresented students.

 

-       The National Urban League will also induct its 2013 “Million, Five Million and Ten Million Dollar Hall of Fame Class” recognizing organizations that contributed $1 million or more to advance the work of the League. This year’s $1 Million Hall of Fame awards will be presented to Sodexo and will be accepted by George Chavel, President and CEO, Sodexo North America.  The $5 Million Hall of Fame award will be presented to Enterprise Holdings and will be accepted by Andy Church, Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise New York/New Jersey.  The 2013 $10 Million Hall of Fame award will be presented to Citi and will be accepted by Michael L. Corbat, CEO, Citigroup.

 

-       Jon Campbell, Executive Vice President, Director of Social Responsibility Group, Wells Fargo, will also make a $4.035 million check presentation from Wells Fargo for the Urban League’s housing counseling work and Entrepreneurship Centers.

 

In 1956, the National Urban League held its first Equal Opportunity Day dinner, giving awards to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary James P. Mitchell and Jacob S. Potofsky, president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.  Since then, Muhammad Ali, Hillary Rodham and William Jefferson Clinton, Iman, Quincy Jones, Richard Parsons, Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee, among others, have been honorees.

 

The presenting sponsor for the 2013 Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner is Comcast/NBC Universal.

 

                   

About the National Urban League

The National Urban League (www.nul.org) is an historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization dedicated to economic empowerment in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League has improved the lives of tens of millions of people nationwide through direct service programs that are implemented locally by its 95 Urban League affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia. The organization also conducts public policy research and advocacy activities from its D.C.-based Washington bureau. The National Urban League, a BBB-accredited organization, has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, placing it in the top 10 percent of

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   MEDIA CONTACT:              Latraviette D. Smith-Wilson

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National Urban League Honors Cicely Tyson with Arts Award at

57th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner

 

- Special Performance by Ryan Shaw, Ensemble Member of “Motown The Musical” -

 

New York, NY (November 13, 2013) – The National Urban League will hold its 57th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner tonight, Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.  The National Urban League’s Annual Equal Opportunity Day Award is the highest commendation presented by the organization to those individuals and corporations that demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunity and exhibit leadership for the cause of equal rights.  This year at the dinner, Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, will present actress, philanthropist and advocate Cicely Tyson with the Arts Award for her tremendous achievements in the area of arts and culture.

 

“The people and organizations that we honor at the Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner exemplify the National Urban League’s commitment to service and the revitalization of communities across America,” said Morial.  “This year’s recipients display extraordinary leadership encouraging empowerment in all aspects of our society.” 

 

The National Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner is being chaired this year by David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation.   The National Urban League is currently partnered with Comcast Corporation to promote access to broadband in underserved communities.  David Ushery, anchor/reporter & host of the Debrief with David Ushery, NBC4 New York, and Caroline Clarke, executive editor/host of Black Enterprise and the Black Enterprise Business Report, will serve as MCs for the evening.

 

Additional highlights are as follows:

 

-       Gregory D. Wasson, President and CEO, Walgreen Co. (via video) and Steve Pemberton, Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion, Walgreen Co. will accept the Corporate Leadership Award for Walgreen’s generous support of the National Urban League’s efforts to provide critical resources and information about health disparities that permeate urban communities nationwide.

 

-       Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President and CEO, TIAA-CREF, will receive the Leadership Award for demonstrating exemplary leadership as one of the top corporate executives in America.

 

-       John D. Hofmeister, Founder and CEO, Citizens for Affordable Energy, will receive the President’s Award for his high standard of leadership and commitment to service as Chair of the National Urban League board of trustees.

 

-       Kurt M. Landgraf, President and CEO, Education Testing Service, will receive a Special Award for improving quality and equity in education for underrepresented students.

 

-       The National Urban League will also induct its 2013 “Million, Five Million and Ten Million Dollar Hall of Fame Class” recognizing organizations that contributed $1 million or more to advance the work of the League. This year’s $1 Million Hall of Fame awards will be presented to Sodexo and will be accepted by George Chavel, President and CEO, Sodexo North America.  The $5 Million Hall of Fame award will be presented to Enterprise Holdings and will be accepted by Andy Church, Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise New York/New Jersey.  The 2013 $10 Million Hall of Fame award will be presented to Citi and will be accepted by Michael L. Corbat, CEO, Citigroup.

 

-       Jon Campbell, Executive Vice President, Director of Social Responsibility Group, Wells Fargo, will also make a $4.035 million check presentation from Wells Fargo for the Urban League’s housing counseling work and Entrepreneurship Centers.

 

In 1956, the National Urban League held its first Equal Opportunity Day dinner, giving awards to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary James P. Mitchell and Jacob S. Potofsky, president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.  Since then, Muhammad Ali, Hillary Rodham and William Jefferson Clinton, Iman, Quincy Jones, Richard Parsons, Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee, among others, have been honorees.

 

The presenting sponsor for the 2013 Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner is Comcast/NBC Universal.

 

                   

About the National Urban League

The National Urban League (www.nul.org) is an historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization dedicated to economic empowerment in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League has improved the lives of tens of millions of people nationwide through direct service programs that are implemented locally by its 95 Urban League affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia. The organization also conducts public policy research and advocacy activities from its D.C.-based Washington bureau. The National Urban League, a BBB-accredited organization, has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, placing it in the top 10 percent of all U.S. charities for adhering to good governance, fiscal responsibility and other best practices.

 

 all U.S. charities for adhering to good governance, fiscal responsibility and other best practices.