Equal Opportunity Awards Gala
The Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL) will host its annual Equal Opportunity Awards Gala in October to honor deserving community and business leaders with a 2025 theme of “Celebrating Resilience.”
The event, now in its 35th year, will pay tribute to the organization’s strength through its years of dedication and advocacy. The gala, known for top-flight entertainment, will feature the iconic 1980s synth-funk group Midnight Star, known for multiple hits, including ”Freak-A-Zoid,” “Operator,” “Slow Jam” and “Electricity.”
“We are excited to host this year’s Equal Opportunity Awards Gala under the inspiring theme of resilience,” said Dr. Laurie Shanderson Evans, president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League, who will participate in her first gala as KAUL’s new leader. “We will recognize the outstanding achievements of each award winner. Midnight Star will uplift and embody this year’s theme, reflecting our ongoing commitment to driving meaningful change in Knoxville and across East Tennessee.”
The gala will be held Thursday, Oct. 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Knoxville Convention Center, and tickets and information are available at thekaul.org/equal-opportunity-awards-gala.
The Equal Opportunity Awards Gala is the nonprofit’s key annual fundraiser dedicated to advancing its mission of empowering the underserved toward economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. The award categories include volunteer of the year, minority business of the year, corporate leadership and the prestigious Whitney M. Young Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award. The winners of the awards will be announced during the gala.
Whitney M. Young Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award: The award honors Whitney Young, the fourth executive director of the National Urban League (1961-1971), who worked to forge new alliances and coalitions to build bridges of understanding among races.
Corporate Leadership Award: The award 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.
Minority Business of the Year Award: The award recognizes a minority business that has made an economic and social impact on the community.
Volunteer of the Year Award: The award salutes an individual or individuals who have made a significant impact on the programs and services of the Knoxville Area Urban League and the community.
“We encourage everyone to celebrate with us at this impactful event,” Shanderson Evans said. “As the new president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League, I look forward to being there and having a chance to meet our supporters and those who champion our mission.”
About the Knoxville Area Urban League
Since 1968, the Knoxville Area Urban League has assisted disadvantaged people attain social and economic stability and self-sufficiency through direct services and advocacy. The League works to provide a skilled and diverse workforce; to increase homeownership; to support economic and small business development, and to enhance education efforts for our youth. The Knoxville Area Urban League is a United Way partner agency and affiliate of the National Urban League. The League’s work and results are evident in the lives of the thousands of people it impacts each year. For more information, call 865-524-5511 or visit thekaul.org.