The Equal Opportunity Awards Gala
The Gala is our most significant fundraising event of the year. More importantly, it affords us the opportunity to celebrate our Volunteer of the Year, Minority Business, Corporate Leadership and Whitney M. Young Lifetime Achievement award winners.
And, the evening is always a celebration to remember, with good food and fellowship and top-flight music provided by acts such as Jeffrey Osborne, the Whispers, the Spinners, the Temptations and The O’Jays.
The Gala also provides an excellent opportunity for networking with top area business professionals, and an investment in a corporate table is a good investment for local businesses.
The 2012 Gala is scheduled for Thursday, October 25, 2011.
Reception at 6 p.m. Dinner, awards and entertainment begin at 7 p.m.
Corporate Leadership
Recognizes a company, governmental agency or entity that has shown sensitivity to diversity, employment trends and/or special program involvement and support of the Urban League and its mission.
Past Award Recipients:
2011: Denark Construction
2010: Allstate, Lonnie Jones Agency
2009: Comcast
2008: U.S. Cellular
2007: Moxley Carmichael
2006: Scripps Networks
Minority Business
Recognizes a minority-owned business that has made an economic as well as a social impact in the community.
Past Award Recipients:
2011: Lonsdale Market & Deli
2010: Hispanic Chamber of
East Tennessee
2009: Jones Kirkpatrick & Associates
2008: Premiere Building Maintenance
2007: Unity Mortuary
2006: Visionary Solutions, LLC
Volunteer of the Year
Salutes an individual who has made a significant impact on the programs and services of the Knoxville Area Urban League and the community.
Past Award Recipients:
2011: Charles “Chuck” Christiansen
2010: Nate Ware, U.S. Cellular
2009: Eric and Jamia Stokes
2008: Tammy Strader, Denark Construction
2007: Mike Simmons, Kim Jones and Joe Austin, First Tennessee Bank
2006: Lenissa Mostella, University of Tennessee, Office of Equity and Diversity
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Lifetime Achievement
The most prestigious of all Urban League Awards, this award is named to honor the fourth executive director of the National Urban League (1961-1971). Mr. Young worked tenaciously to forge new alliances and coalitions to build bridges of understanding among the races.
Past Award Recipients:
2011: Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner, the Love Kitchen sisters
2008: Robert Booker, Former legislator, author and historian
2007: Margaret and Felix Gaiter, Community volunteers
2006: Dr. Robert Harvey, Interim President, Knoxville College
2005: Sarah Moore Greene
2002: Gloria Garner
To view the pictures from the Gala click here
To view the 2008 Gala Photos here
