Posted by | Ray Cornelius
In what has become a highly anticipated tradition, there will be spectacular masks and elegant attire for an evening of style and glamour at UNCF’s 31st Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball on Saturday, December 20, Atlanta’s premier charity event of the holiday season. UNCF President and CEO Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D. will be joined as co-hosts by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Maurice Jenkins, UNCF Executive Vice President, National Development. R & B Recording Artist Chaka Khan will perform.
The UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball will be held at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis and will begin at 7:00 p.m. Co-chairs for this year’s gala include Ms. Erica Qualls-Beatty, General Manager, Atlanta Marriott Marquis; Mr. Ed Baker, Publisher of the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Mr. Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., President, TWD, Inc. The Marquis Sponsors for the ball include The Coca- Cola Company, Delta Air Lines and UPS. The co-founders of the UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball are Ambassador Andrew Young and Ms. Billye Suber Aaron.
“The Mayor’s Masked Ball is always a spectacular evening supported by the leaders of Atlanta who share in our efforts to raise funds for the education of college students attending UNCF schools, four that are right there in Atlanta ” said Dr. Lomax. “The ball is UNCF’s signature event and significant opportunity to keep students in school and to help them graduate and go on to secure successful professional careers.”
UNCF’s Mayor’s Masked Ball welcomes more than 1,200 guests annually, many who are entertainers in film, television and music, sports figures, elected officials, civic leaders, dignitaries and volunteers. Past celebrities who have attended include actor Derrick “Fonzworth Bentley” Watkins, Dawnn Lewis and Jasmine Guy stars of NBC TV sitcom “A Different World”; songwriter and recording artist Cee Lo Green formerly of “The Voice”; singer and actress Demetria McKinney of “Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns” and singer Jennifer Holliday, star of the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls.” Entertainment has been provided over the past few years by Fantasia, Frankie Beverly and Maze and Gladys Knight.
UNCF’s Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball has raised millions to support students who attend Atlanta’s four UNCF member institutions –Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Spelman College—Atlanta students attending other UNCF colleges and universities, and all of the 60,000 students who attend the 37 UNCF member institutions. This year the ball begins with a VIP reception and holiday silent auction, followed by the signature Parade of Stars and Dignitaries, an elegant dinner, and the Parade of Masks. Dancing and a performance by a national recording artist. .
General admission tickets can be purchased for $550 each and corporate sponsorships are also available.
Photo Credits: UNCF.org
