United Negro College Fund's An Evening of Stars(R) Tribute to Stevie Wonder Receives NAACP Image Award Nomination

United Negro College Fund's An Evening of Stars(R) Tribute to Stevie Wonder Receives NAACP Image Award Nomination

First-Ever Nomination for Long-running National Broadcast

FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Negro College Fund's (UNCF) 27th An Evening of Stars(R) (AEOS 2006) Tribute to Stevie Wonder, was nominated today for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Variety or Series Special. The NAACP Image Awards will air live on Friday, March 2 from 8 - 10 p.m. on FOX. The theme this year is "Youth Create Change."

"We at UNCF, and everyone who contributed to this important effort are very proud of this nomination," said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., president and CEO of UNCF. "This program is special to us at UNCF for many reasons. Most significantly, it was the last time the show's founder, Lou Rawls, was with us before his death in January 2006. And this nomination is recognition of our mission and Rawls' efforts to educate minority students while continuing to close the education attainment gap. I am sure he too would be very proud of this honor."

AEOS 2006 honored Wonder with an all-star tribute for his contributions to the music industry and role as a global humanitarian and philanthropist. In his ninth year with AEOS 2006, acclaimed, Emmy-award winning executive producer and director, Louis J. Horvitz, added his unique signature to the nominated event. Before becoming executive producer, Horvitz directed The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, for 12 years.

"It is a privilege to produce UNCF's television special each year," said Horvitz. "And to be recognized by the NAACP for doing so is an unexpected honor. An Evening of Stars(R) Tribute to Stevie Wonder is not only a musical celebration saluting an exceptional individual, but also a way to shine light on the ever-important need to educate our youth."

AEOS 2006 featured performances by Smokey Robinson, India Arie, Toni Braxton and Yolanda Adams. Special guest presenters were Angela Bassett, Maya Angelou, Spike Lee, Ruby Dee, Robert Townsend, Debbie Allen, Tyler Perry, Quincy Jones and many more.

The NAACP nomination, a first for UNCF, represents a significant milestone for the noteworthy organization. It signifies the culmination of the numerous efforts of everyone who contributes to UNCF's mission of providing assistance to its member colleges and the underserved population.

This year's program, AEOS 2007, pays tribute to Aretha Franklin, and will air nationally on Jan. 27 and 28. A complete station line-up, background information and media contacts can be found at http://www.uncf.org/AEOS .

About An Evening of Stars(R)

An Evening of Stars(R) (AEOS), formerly the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, 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, McDonalds, Prudential, Target, Toyota and Wachovia. AEOS has featured a who's who of recognizable talent, including Frank Sinatra, Bill Cosby, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dick Clark, Reba McIntyre, Richard Pryor, Beyonce Knowles, Jill Scott, Luther Vandross, Whoopi Goldberg, Patti LaBelle, Ed McMahon, Michael Bolton, Hall and Oates, Ziggy Marley and scores of others.

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 more than 300 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.

Source: United Negro College Fund

CONTACT: media, Rey Cheatham Banks, Press Secretary of United Negro
College Fund, +1-703-205-3480, or media@uncf.org

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

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