Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Mega film writer, director and producer Tyler Perry will be honored this Sunday, October 6 during the 92nd Birthday Celebration of Civil Right Leader Joseph E. Lowery. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College and will be hosted by Steve Harvey.
Perry and his TP Studios will receive the inaugural “Joseph E. Lowery Agent of Change Award” for his outstanding contributions to the world of television, film and mankind.
“Tyler Perry serves as the perfect example of someone who has worked tirelessly as a champion for the common good,” said Cheryl Lowery. “Central to the mission of the Lowery Institute is to empower, inspire and train current and future leaders as “change agents” to explore the moral, ethical and theological imperatives for justice and human rights. Mr. Perry has persevered in spite of personal and professional challenges and has achieved incredible results in an industry that has historically limited minority participation. As an actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, producer and author, he has used his vast business network to employ hundreds of people in underserved areas of our community. He has been involved in civil rights cases, donates generously to charities, children’s issues, homelessness and feeding the poor. We can think of no one more suited to receive the first Joseph E. Lowery Agent of Change Award than Tyler Perry,” she said.
The event will include a theatrical presentation entitled I’ve Known Rivers with special appearances by Cassi Davis, Terri Vaughn, Rolanda Watts, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Derek “Fonzworth Bentley” Watkins, Kenny Leon, Morehouse and Spelman College Glee Clubs.
This year’s birthday celebration for Lowery will be a bittersweet one for Lowery. His wife of nearly 70 years, Evelyn Lowery, passed away on the morning of September 26 after she suffered a stroke on September 18. She will be laid to rest on this Wednesday, October 2 at the Westview Cemetery in Atlanta.
Tickets for the Lowery 92 Birthday Celebration are available at www.loweryinstitute.org/Lowery92. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Joseph E. Lowery Institute for Justice and Human Rights.
Photo Credit: urbanexcellence.net