CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE TO HOST 64TH ANNUAL GOLDEN FELLOWSHIP DINNER

CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE TO HOST 64TH ANNUAL GOLDEN FELLOWSHIP DINNER

Fundraising Gala will Honor Chicagoans George E. Johnson and Julieanna L. Richardson

CHICAGO— The Chicago Urban League announced that its 64th Annual Golden Fellowship Dinner (GFD) will feature a special performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Ledisi and will honor distinguished leaders George E. Johnson and Julieanna L. Richardson. The gala will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, in the Skyline Ballroom at McCormick Place.

This signature fundraising gala supports the Chicago Urban League’s service to communities across the metropolitan area and is expected to draw more than 2,000 civic, business, and community leaders.

“The Chicago Urban League’s work to foster economic empowerment and drive lasting equity is more important now than ever, and our annual Golden Fellowship Dinner fundraiser helps to make this work possible,” said Karen Freeman-Wilson, CUL’s President and CEO. “It is also a highly anticipated occasion that truly emphasizes fellowship as we celebrate with our partners, friends, and business and civic leaders. We hope that everyone will come out to enjoy an unforgettable evening of great music, food, and fun – while supporting our service to more than 15,000 Chicagoans each year.”

This year’s headline performer, Ledisi, is hailed as one of the most captivating vocalists of her generation and is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Ledisi’s remarkable talent has earned her critical acclaim and numerous accolades throughout her career. With 15 Grammy nominations, including a win for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “I Need To Know,” her impact on the music industry is undeniable. Her chart-topping singles include “Pieces of Me,” “Alright,” “In the Morning,” and more.

V103 weekend host Jeanne Sparrow and ABC 7 Chicago morning anchor Val Warner will co-host this year’s gala program. Toi Salter, President of Salter Financial Management, will serve as the 2025 honorary chair of this year’s Golden Fellowship Dinner after a record-breaking year as gala chair in 2024.

“Last year’s Golden Fellowship Dinner drew a record crowd and raised more than four million dollars to advance the Chicago Urban League’s mission,” said Toi Salter. “I’m excited to build on that momentum as honorary chair this year. The 2025 theme, ‘Shoulders We Stand On, Futures We Create,’ recognizes the powerful legacy that continues to drive the progress that lies ahead.”

GFD is one of Chicago’s most prominent and well-attended fundraising galas, with more than 2,300 attendees in 2024. This year’s theme, Shoulders We Stand On, Futures We Create, recognizes the contributions of many individuals – past and present – who have helped foster economic empowerment, cultivate leadership, and break down barriers on the path to equity.

In keeping with the theme, the League will honor Chicago businessman and entrepreneur George E. Johnson, founder of Chicago-based cosmetics company Johnson Products Company, with this year’s Edwin “Bill” C. Berry Civil Rights Award. Named for the civil rights trailblazer who led the Chicago Urban League from 1956-1969, this award recognizes an individual who has left a mark on the nation through hard work, perseverance and creativity. Recent past winners include nonprofit executive and community leader Dr. Carol L. Adams; National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones; and Attorney Benjamin Crump.

The League will also honor Julieanna L. Richardson, founder and president of The HistoryMakers, with its Humanitarian Award in recognition of her work to chronicle and preserve African American history through video. created in 2019, recognizes individuals whose work aligns with our mission of advancing racial and economic equity. Previous recipients of the award include retired President Emeritus of Morehouse College and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Dr. Walter Massey, community organizer and philanthropist Dr. Aleta Clark, Northern Trust executive Connie Lindsey, and retired Northern Trust chairman Frederick H. Waddell.

Each honoree will receive an original, commissioned portrait from a Chicago-based artist.

This year’s top GFD sponsors include ITW, iHeart Media Chicago, Abbott, Allstate, BMO, GCM Grosvenor, and McDonald’s Corp.

For information on sponsorship packages, visit https://chiul.org/sponsor-gfd64/. To buy tickets, visit: bit.ly/GFD64Tickets. Proceeds from GFD directly support the Chicago Urban League’s work in advancing economic empowerment, cultivating leadership, and promoting equity across the city.

Established in 1916, the Chicago Urban League works to foster economic empowerment, cultivate leadership, and dismantle systemic barriers in the effort to drive lasting equity and prosperity for Black Chicago. We help people find jobs and establish careers, become homeowners, enhance their educational experiences, strengthen their leadership skills, and grow their businesses. As one of the oldest and largest affiliates of the National Urban League, we promote strong, sustainable communities through advocacy, innovation, and collaborative community, corporate and civic relationships. For more information, visit www.ChiUL.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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