UNCF Chicago Hosts Inaugural Mayor’s Luncheon to Raise Funds, Awareness

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Dr. Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D, President and CEO, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel hold a check from the City of Chicago Employee Campaign for $150,000 that was donated to UNCF during the organization’s Inaugural Mayor's Luncheon.
Dr. Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D, President and CEO, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel hold a check from the City of Chicago Employee Campaign for $150,000 that was donated to UNCF during the organization’s Inaugural Mayor's Luncheon. Photo by Lee Edwards.

The Chicago Office of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) hosted its inaugural Mayor’s Luncheon last week at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Upper Wacker Dr. This year’s theme “From Cradle to Career”, recognized that early childhood education is every bit as important as secondary and post-secondary education.

“[The] Mayor’s Luncheon raises awareness and bring us together with stakeholders whose commitment is critical in our work,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D, President and CEO, UNCF. “We must make sure that all Chicagoans, and all Americans, not just some, get the preschool-through-college education they need, and that we all need them to have.”

“UNCF creates a pipeline of educated minority students who become tomorrow’s business leaders, medical professionals, educators and community advocates,” Lomax said.

Each year, the Chicago Office raises funds for deserving students through annual events such as the Masked Ball (formerly the Black and White Ball) and Walk for Education along Chicago’s lakefront. In 2013, the organization secured more than $650,000 in sponsorship support to Chicagoland students. Nationally, UNCF supports more than 10,000 scholarships per year under more than 400 programs for students at 900 colleges and universities across the country.

“The Chicago Office is thankful to Mayor Emanuel and the City of Chicago and all our supporters for their strong support of UNCF and of education here in Chicago. When you support UNCF you are truly investing in better futures for our young people,” said Michael Cox, Area Development Director, UNCF. “Investing in the advancement of minority higher education benefits our local communities, therefore it is imperative that we come together to help deserving students get from the cradle to a career.”

During his remarks, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented a check for $150,000 to UNCF on behalf of the City of Chicago Employee Campaign.

A panel discussion themed “From Cradle to Career” moderated by Dr. Lomax also commenced and featured were Lori Campbell, principal, John Marshall Metropolitan High School; Cheryl Hyman, chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago; Janine Lewis, executive director, EverThrive Illinois; and James Adams, former Becoming a Man (BAM) participant.

The Chicago UNCF Mayor’s Luncheon was sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, Grosvenor, ITW, Macy’s, Northern Trust and UPS. For more information on the Chicago UNCF Mayor’s Luncheon, please contact UNCF at (312) 845-2200 or visit uncf.org.

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to assists minority and underrepresented students in attend college. Since its founding in 1944, UNCF has raised more than $3.6 billion helping more than 400,000 students receive college degrees at UNCF-member institutions UNCF is the nation's largest minority education organization according to its website.

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