Signed, Sealed, Delivered: UNCF Wins Image Award for Tribute to Stevie Wonder

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: UNCF Wins Image Award for Tribute to Stevie Wonder

FAIRFAX, Va., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight in Los Angeles at the Shrine Theatre and Auditorium, The United Negro College Fund's (UNCF) annually televised production, "An Evening of Stars(R)" (AEOS) won an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Variety or Series Special for its 2006 airing, "A Tribute to Stevie Wonder."

On hand to receive the award for UNCF was President and CEO, Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D. and Executive Producer of the show, five-time Emmy Award winner Louis J. Horvitz.

"This award is a tribute to so many people," said Lomax. "Our honoree, Stevie Wonder, a true American treasure; Executive Producer and Director, Lou Horvitz; our sponsors, American Airlines, McDonald's, Prudential Financial, Target, Toyota, and Wachovia; and my colleagues on the UNCF staff for whom AEOS is a year-round labor of love," he continued. "But most of all it's a tribute to the 39 historically black colleges that belong to the United Negro College Fund and the 65,000 students who attend UNCF member schools and receive UNCF scholarships, whose work reminds us every day how true it is that 'A mind is a terrible thing to waste.'"

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, the acclaimed executive producer and director, Louis J. Horvitz, added his unique signature to the nominated event. Before becoming executive producer, Horvitz directed UNCF's "Lou Rawls Parade of Stars(R)," for 12 years. Horvitz's credits include "The Academy Awards" for ten consecutive years; The American Film Institute (AFI) tributes to Tom Hanks (2002), Robert DeNiro (2003), Meryl Streep (2004), George Lucas (2005) and Sean Connery (2006); 11 years as director of "The PrimeTime Emmy Awards" and 13 years as director of "The Kennedy Center Honors." Producers of AEOS are Cort Casady and Bill Urban.

"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 and featured the last appearance by its founder, Lou Rawls. Special guest presenters were Angela Bassett, Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, Spike Lee, Robert Townsend, Debbie Allen, Tyler Perry, Quincy Jones and many more.

The NAACP win, 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.

About "An Evening of Stars(R)"

"An Evening of Stars(R)," 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. 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. AEOS 2006 was sponsored by American Airlines, McDonald's, Prudential Financial, Target, Toyota and Wachovia. AEOS has featured a "who's who" of recognizable talent, including Bill Cosby, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Dick Clark, Reba McIntyre, Beyonce Knowles, Jill Scott, 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.

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Source: United Negro College Fund

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

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

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