An Evening of Stars(R) Tribute to Aretha Franklin to Remember UNCF Spokesman Lou Rawls

An Evening of Stars(R) Tribute to Aretha Franklin to Remember UNCF Spokesman Lou Rawls

UNCF CEO, Rawls Family and Target to Present Special Accolade Sept. 8

FAIRFAX, Va., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sept. 8 and 9 taping of An Evening of Stars(R) Tribute to Aretha Franklin benefiting the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) will be the first time in 28 years that the UNCF's annual TV special will be produced without legendary performer Lou Rawls, who died in January at the age of 72.

But Rawls, who is credited with originating the idea for the TV event in 1979 and helping the UNCF to raise over $200 million for minority higher education, will be remembered on the 28th anniversary of the program with a special award bearing his name. The Lou Rawls-UNCF Award will be given to an artist whose career exemplifies Rawls' passion for ensuring that minority youth receive a quality college education. The first recipient of the accolade will be announced Friday, Sept. 8 during the taping at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. As part of its partnership with UNCF and commitment to education, Target will be the corporate sponsor of the Lou Rawls-UNCF Award.

"When Lou Rawls passed, UNCF felt it was important that his esteemed legacy not fade away, but shine brighter than ever on the television event in which he invested so much of his time and talent," said UNCF President and CEO Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D. "Each year, this award will go to a worthy individual whose service to our mission of education and supporting member colleges lives up to the name of the man for whom it was created."

"What an amazing way to continue the legacy of such an extraordinary man. Although Lou himself was not able to attend college, he created this telethon 28 years ago with selfless sacrifice and a vision to help those who would strive for higher education fulfill their dream," said Nina Rawls, widow of the Grammy Award-winning vocalist. "It is truly an honor to keep his name and vision alive for future generations."

From 1979 to 1997, the UNCF's annual television special was known as The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars(R). The program was re-formatted and re-named An Evening of Stars(R) in 1998. At its 25th anniversary in 2004, the program adopted a tribute format to recognize an outstanding artist each year with the UNCF's prestigious Award of Excellence. Rawls was the first recipient of the award, followed by Quincy Jones in 2005 and Stevie Wonder in 2006. Aretha Franklin will become the fourth recipient and first female artist to receive the annual tribute and UNCF's Award of Excellence.

The live taping at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood will feature celebrity presenters and well-known performers from a variety of eras and genres of music and acting. As one of the longest running and most successful televised events in U.S. history, An Evening of Stars(R) has featured a Who's Who of recognizable talent, including Frank Sinatra, Bill Cosby, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dick Clark, Nancy Wilson, Reba McIntyre, Richard Pryor, Beyonce Knowles, Jill Scott, Luther Vandross, Whoopi Goldberg, Patti LaBelle, Ed McMahon, Vanessa Williams, Michael Bolton, Toni Braxton, Hall and Oates, Ziggy Marley and scores of others.

About An Evening of Stars(R)

An Evening of Stars(R) (AEOS), formerly the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars(R), first aired in 1979, and since that time has become one of the longest running and most successful televised events in U.S. history. AEOS 2007 will be the first without its founder Lou Rawls, who died in January 2006. Rawls, a spokesperson for UNCF and champion for AEOS for more than 25 years, is credited with helping raise more than $200 million for the UNCF to supplement the cost of higher education for scholarship recipients and member institutions. This year's show, now in its 28th season, is sponsored by American Airlines, McDonald's, Prudential, Target, Toyota and Wachovia.

About UNCF

As the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization, the United Negro College Fund's mission is to provide financial support to its 39 member institutions and increase minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 25 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers nearly 450 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship programs, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 65,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. Learn more about UNCF at http://www.uncf.org/

Source: United Negro College Fund

CONTACT: Brenda Siler of United Negro College Fund, +1-703-205-3454,
media@uncf.org; or Shawn Wood of Burson-Marsteller, +1-214-224-8400,
shawn.wood@bm.com, for United Negro College Fund

Web site: http://www.uncf.org/

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