UNCF 39th ANNUAL ATLANTA MAYOR’S MASKED BALL

RAISED 2.1 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT

Record-breaking fundraiser attended by a sellout crowd of 1,300 ATLANTA, GA (Dec. 21, 2022) -- It was a night to remember the generosity and goodwill support of attendees and sponsors of UNCF’s 39th annual Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball.

“This year’s event was historic. It was record-breaking for UNCF Mayor’s Masked Balls generating the largest amount ever raised for this event. We far exceeded expectations by raising 2.1 million in scholarship support thanks to our awesome donors who love HBCUs,” said Justine Boyd, assistant vice president, Atlanta Region, UNCF. “I am enormously grateful for the outpouring of support for this legacy event, which brought together guests from around the nation. The excitement and enthusiastic support were simply amazing.”

The stellar event held at the Atlanta Marquis in downtown Atlanta was an evening of excitement and entertainment for the sold-out audience. As the newly installed mayor of Atlanta, the Honorable Andre Dickens hosted his first UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball. Joining Mayor Dickens as Honorary Co- Chair was Nicole “Nikki” Clifton, president of social impact, at the UPS Foundation where she leads UPS’s global philanthropy, social impact and international community affairs and oversees the company’s efforts to respond to the world’s most pressing social, humanitarian, and environmental needs. UPS was the title sponsor of the ball, joined by Presenting Sponsors, Chick-Fil-A, Norfolk Southern, Nike, Google, and Delta Air Lines. The Billye Suber Aaron Masked Award Honorees were Charmaine Ward- Millner, Kaiser Permanente vice president of mass communications, community relations and Bentina Chisolm Terry, Georgia Power senior vice president, customer strategy & solutions. Actor Timon Durrett was master of ceremonies.

Grammy-Award winner Babyface was a major highlight of the evening as he took to the stage to entertain a sold-out crowd of 1300. The celebrities present were musicians Jermaine Dupri, Jeezy and wife, Jeannie Mai, actor Danny Glover and film maker and director Roger Bobb. Radio personality Frank Ski hosted the live auction event with hot items up for bidding, including 3 day and four nights at the Couples All-Inclusive Resort in Jamaica: a Coca-Cola Essence Experience, including airfare, hotel, suite access and floor seats, a Culinary Experience with Chef Jernard Wells, and a walk on role in the Bobcat Production of Thriller Cruel Encounters for BET, currently filming in Atlanta. 

UNCF HBCU presidents attending were Dr. Helene Gayle, SpelmanCollege; Dr. David A. Thomas, Morehouse College; Dr. George T. French, Jr., Clark Atlanta University and Mr. Matthew Wesley Williams, Interdenominational Theological Center. Other area HBCU presidents in attendance were Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, Morehouse School of Medicine and Dr. Kevin James, Morris Brown College. Also, Dr. Charles Blake, president, Georgia State University attended. Most compelling moments of the evening were the awarding of scholarships to outstanding students and the testimonies they shared. Caylin Carter, a CAU senior majoring in broadcast communications, received $160K in scholarship funds. William Murphy, a junior at Morehouse College received the UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax Scholarship for $200K to study philosophy and economics. Murphy was once homeless during high school, but despite his circumstance, he studied and persevered, and entered Morehouse with a 4.0 GPA. UNCF Mayor’s Masked Balls make it possible for students, sometimes first- generation students from low-income communities, to go to and through college and achieve their best futures.

During the past 78 years, UNCF has empowered more than half million students to earn college degrees. As the largest and most effective minority education organization in the United States, UNCF actively supports 37 private historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and advocates for minority higher education. Education has always been at the forefront of UNCF’s fundraising mission. With the success of the Mayor’s Masked Ball, thousands of students have a brighter future becauseof the support they receive. In the 2020-21 school year, 928 awards totaling $6,732,895 were given to students in Georgia. In the past few years, more than 800 students attending UNCF member schools were either able to attend college or continue their college education without the interruption of financial challenges. The event helps support area UNCF-member institutions including Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC).

About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of bachelor’s degrees, 5% of master’s degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. 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 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and it's widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” ®  Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

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