Funding Program Supports Nearly 300 Alabama College Students
BIRMINGHAM, AL (January 20, 2011) – The Alabama-Mississippi Area Office of UNCF – United Negro College Fund – the nation’s oldest and most successful minority education assistance organization, announced plans for the 2nd Annual Birmingham Masked Ball, its annual fundraiser, to be held Saturday, February 26, 2011 at the Sheraton Convention Center Hotel.
Spearheaded by UNCF Executive Director Walvid King, the event raised more than $300,000 last year for scholarship assistance for college students. The 2011 fundraising initiative reflects the commitment of generous business and community leaders, including Birmingham husband-wife team, Leadership Committee Co-Chairs Herschell and Majella Hamilton (both of whom attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., an Historically Black College or University – HBCU) and Gala Chair Glyn Agnew, Regional Director of External Affairs for AT&T Alabama, who will lead the Gala Planning Committee.
Agnew has been in place for several months, working with King and the Hamiltons, who are serving their second year as co-chairs of the UNCF 2011 campaign. Members of the gala planning committee and the leadership committee are preparing for this year’s annual UNCF M.A.S.K.E.D. Gala on the 26th.
“Timing is everything, and now is the time to introduce the rest of the region to the man we’ve selected to successfully lead our fundraising efforts for this year’s gala,” King said “I believe that Glyn’s passion for community driven initiatives which raise awareness and funds, definitely makes him the right man to assist us. As we strive to support Alabama students in pursuit of their educational dreams, it is vital to have great leadership to drive the effort and help shape the future for UNCF.”
Building on a spectacular foundation in 2010, the UNCF Birmingham Masked Gala will encompass a black-tie dinner-dance fundraiser and reception at the Sheraton Convention Center Ballroom, from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. In addition to a nationally recognized guest artist/entertainer, special performances will be showcased from the dynamic talent and skills of Alabama’s-own HBCU students and faculty members.
“We are grateful that Birmingham corporate, business, and community supporters are responding to our call with commitments to make the Birmingham Masked Gala 2011 a success by pledging substantial financial support for scholarships to help educate our leaders of tomorrow,” King said “The entire team is honored to continue working with Herschell and Majella Hamilton, our Leadership Committee Chairs, and we are excited to welcome Glen Agnew, our Gala Program Committee chair, as well as the leadership and program committees hard at work.”
Last year, the UNCF Gala alone raised more than $325,000 to support deserving students. Combined campaigns nationally support students who attend UNCF’s 39 member colleges and universities across the nation. The 2011 Birmingham UNCF Leadership and Planning Committees have set a goal to raise more than $325,000.
In 2010, UNCF nationally supported approximately 60,000 students at 900 colleges and universities with approximately $195 million in grants and scholarships. About 60% of these students are the first in their families to attend college, and 62% have annual family incomes of less than $25,000. UNCF administers over 400 named scholarships.
While the UNCF Birmingham office is noted for hosting one of the most highly anticipated black-tie fundraising events of the year, Walvid King and his team have been working effortlessly on the development of educational and community based initiatives in four categories: collaborative partnership building, fundraising sustainability to support educational capacity building initiatives, grassroots campaign efforts to increase awareness about UNCF-HBCU’s, and diversity and inclusion campaigns to support the growth and development of UNCF Alabama.
Major sponsors of past UNCF Alabama-area Galas include a wide array of support from both business and community organizations, including Alabama Power Company, Protective Life, American Cast Iron and Pipe (ACIPCO), Mercedes Benz US International, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport Authority, Regions Bank, Vulcan Materials, and the City of Birmingham.
Table packages of 8 are available for sponsorship beginning at $3,000.00. Ticket costs are $125.00 per person.
For more details on sponsorship opportunities, tickets, or additional information on the UNCF Birmingham Masked Ball 2011, please contact the UNCF Alabama-Mississippi Area Office at 205/322-8623. For more information about UNCF, please visit www.uncf.org.
About UNCF
UNCF—United Negro College Fund—is the nation’s oldest and most successful minority education assistance organization. Its mission is to increase minority degree attainment by providing financial support to its 39 member institutions, reducing financial barriers to college and serving as a national advocate for minority education. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 18 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. UNCF’s recently redesigned logo and brand identity feature UNCF’s torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”®Learn more at http://www.UNCF.org” www.UNCF.org.
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