Babyface Headlines 2011 NDIGO Gala

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Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds serenades the audience during his performance at the 2011 N'DIGO Foundation Gala on June 19. (Photo by Thelma Sardin)
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds serenades the audience during his performance at the 2011 N'DIGO Foundation Gala on June 19. (Photo by Thelma Sardin)

by Thelma Sardin

Chicagos African American elite showed up in full force for the 2011 NDIGO Gala on Sunday evening held at the Chicago Symphony Center located on 220 South Michigan Avenue. The gala is a fundraiser for The NDIGO Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization that rewards hardworking Chicago area high school students with merit-based college scholarships.

For the past sixteen years, the foundation has provided scholarships to well-deserving students with the help of colleges and universities, corporations, foundations, community organizations and generous individuals, as cited on its website. Prior to Sunday evening, the foundation has awarded over 225 scholarships.

Hermene Hartman, president and CEO of NDIGO Magapaper and Art Norman, retired NBC 5 News Anchor, served as hosts for the evening.

The gala, held on Fathers Day, also served as an awards ceremony where the foundation honored several influential African-American men including: Dr. Robert Franklin, president of Morehouse College; Rev. Charles Jenkins, Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church; Lester Coney, Mesirow Financial; Runako Jahi, ETA Creative Arts Foundation; Dr. Conrad Worrill, Northeastern Illinois University, and Charles Thomas, ABC 7 Chicago.

[The honorees] are being recognized this evening for their professional and personal achievements as well as [for] their career contributions, said Norman. They represent the best of Chicago and we are proud of all of them, he said.

During his acceptance speech, Dr. Worrill called on Black men to come back to their families and to live out their true purpose as Black men. On this Fathers Day, Im calling for brothers to come home, to come back to their families, to come back to their wives, to come back to their loved ones and do the kind of work that will make our ancestors proud..

Attendees at the gala included Judge Greg Mathis, singer Howard Hewett, Alderman Michelle Harris (8th), Tara Cooper, Mayor Rahm Emanuels press secretary and ABC 7 News Anchor, Cheryl Burton. Additionally, Mayor Emanuel served as the gala chairman, however, due to the US Conference of Mayors in Maryland, he was unable to attend. Instead, the Mayor recorded a video message that was shared with the audience. Im honored to chair this wonderful celebration highlighting the scholastic achievement and academic excellence of our children, he said, adding, The most important thing I can do as Chicagos mayor is to build an education and foundation for [the] success of every child.

The galas coordinator, Dionne Williams and CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard presented the 2011 NDIGO Scholarship recipients. Ten students were rewarded for academic success. Some of the scholarship recipients will attend the following post-secondary institutions including: Howard University, Chicago State University, Concordia University Chicago, and Roosevelt University.

At the awards ceremonys conclusion and after a short intermission, gala attendees were treated to an intimate evening with a legendary R &B icon.

Gala attendees stood to their feet when Kenneth Babyface Edmonds hit the stage. The GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter, producer and recording artist sang many of his hits including, Every time I Close My Eyes.

During his performance, Babyface spent approximately 20 minutes speaking to the audience about the inspiration for many of his songs. Known for writing, producing and singing countless love songs, the singer said he was born in love. Babyfaces brother, Kevon Edmonds also performed several songs with his brother. Besides singing some of his hits, Babyface also performed a medley of songs he has written and/or produced for other artists including Bobby Browns 1988 hit Tenderoni.

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