THURSDAY • APRIL 23, 2009 • PORTSMOUTH RENAISSANCE HOTEL

Remembering the legacy of
WHITNEY M. YOUNG, JR.

National Urban League Executive Director, 1961-1971

Recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1969

Whitney M. Young, Jr. was a tireless civil rights leader who meshed the tenets of Civil Rights activism with the practices of social work. On numerous occasions, Young conferred with Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon; testified before Congress and appealed to the giants of industry on behalf of the National Urban League constituents. Whitney Young’s agenda for Black America and many of the programs he initiated remain to be completed by his successors.

The Urban League Honors Businesses, Individuals at 19th Whitney M. Young, Jr. Dinner

Winners of the 2009 Whitney M. Young Jr. Awards were honored with a dinner hosted by the Urban League of Hampton Roads and sponsored by Cox Communications. Photo shows Urban League of Hampton Roads President and CEO Edith White (3rd from right) and Cox Hampton Roads SVP and General Manager Gary McCollum (right) with the winners (from left): A. Phillip Randolph Awardee Towne Bank, represented by Executive Vice President Tom Hasty; Whitney M. Young Jr. Awardee Southwest Airlines, represented by Corporate Community Affairs Manager Karen Price Ward; Vivian C. Mason Awardee Dr. James Reeves; and Jocelyn P. Goss Awardee for High School Jasmine Pender. Not in photo are Marian Palmer Capps Awardee John Broderick and Jocelyn P. Goss Awardee for College Christiana Pinkston Betts.

(Portsmouth, VA) -- The Urban League of Hampton Roads honored businesses and individuals at the 19th Annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Dinner held recently at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth. The winners were:

Southwest Airlines for Whitney M. Young Jr. Award
TowneBank for Phillip Randolph Award
Dr. James Reeves for Vivian C. Mason Award
John Broderick for Marian Palmer Capps Award
Christiana Pinkston Betts for Jocelyn P. Goss Award (College)
Jasmine Pender for Jocelyn P. Goss Award (High School)

The winners were selected based on their contribution to enhancing diversity, civic engagement practices and leadership within the Greater Hampton Roads region.

“I congratulate this year’s winners of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards. Their stories are all very inspiring and truly mirror that of Whitney Young’s civic ideals. They have made great strides in promoting diversity and multicultural outreach. I am also grateful to all the sponsors and staff who were vital to the success of this prestigious awards program. They made the recognition night memorable,” said Edith White, President and CEO, Urban League of Hampton Roads.

The 2009 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards Dinner, the signature event of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, was sponsored by Cox Communications, Geico and Liberty Insurance. Gary McCollum, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cox Hampton Roads, served as the Dinner Planning Committee Chair.

“Cox was proud to serve as presenting sponsor for the 2009 Whitney M. Young Jr. Awards Dinner. The dinner was a major opportunity for businesses to shine and be recognized for their community efforts and we were pleased to be among this group. We look forward to continuing positive relations with the Urban League of Hampton Roads,” said Gary McCollum.

Top business organizations attended the dinner which was hosted by CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Also during the dinner was the premiere viewing of the Hampton Roads Black List, a locally-produced documentary that features African-Americans who are considered “barrier breakers” in the region. ESPN Sports Center Anchor Jay Harris presented the Hampton Roads Black List.

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