AT&T Sponsors United Negro College Fund's An Evening of Stars Celebration
AT&T Sponsors United Negro College Fund's An Evening of Stars Celebration
Special Behind-the-Scenes Celebrity Webisodes Available Online
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced that, to continue a commitment to educational programs and organizations that support the African-American community, AT&T is sponsoring the United Negro College Fund's (UNCF) 29th annual An Evening of Stars(R) (AEOS). Scheduled to be broadcast on more than 40 network stations nationally on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27, the tribute program will honor the legacy of music legend Smokey Robinson and showcase the talents of other prominent artists, who will celebrate the honoree.
For the first time, AT&T is providing fans with an exclusive sneak peek behind the scenes of this year's event. These webisodes, hosted by "Extra" correspondent A.J. Calloway, will be available in the AT&T blue room (http://www.attblueroom.com/) beginning Jan. 25 and will feature exclusive artist interviews, rehearsal performances and red-carpet footage of such celebrities as John Legend, Macy Gray and Joss Stone. "AT&T recognizes the important role education plays in the life of a young person, and we applaud UNCF and its 39 participating colleges for helping minority students get the college degrees they need and deserve," said Tracy McDade, AT&T associate director for Multicultural Marketing. "We are proud to be a part of this event and to bring UNCF's message to an even wider audience by featuring the additional, unique content on the AT&T blue room."
The AT&T blue room brings together music fans through a single online portal housing AT&T's unique music and entertainment content. Launched in October 2006, the AT&T blue room gives fans access to live entertainment, interviews and spirited commentary.
AEOS celebrates the work of UNCF and its 39 historically black colleges and universities. The annual event features A-list entertainers who lend their talent to honor those recognized by the organization. AT&T began sponsoring AEOS in 1992.
Robinson will receive the coveted Award of Excellence for his support of UNCF, which includes appearances on past AEOS tributes, participation in the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars(R) telethon and participation in other UNCF fundraising events. Past honorees of the award include Lou Rawls, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones. Additionally, singer and actress Nancy Wilson will receive the inaugural UNCF Founder's Award for her contribution of more than three decades of involvement with the organization.
"AT&T and the AT&T Foundation support efforts that enrich and strengthen diverse communities nationwide, particularly initiatives with an emphasis on education," said Ray Wilkins, AT&T group president for Diversified Businesses. "Since 1985, AT&T companies have provided more than $12.4 million in philanthropic support to UNCF, and, in December, the AT&T Foundation provided a $275,000 grant to UNCF for scholarships to support UNCF member institutions."
Held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the two-hour program will be broadcast, commercial-free, on major networks across the United States. AT&T is one of six category-exclusive national sponsors. Others are American Airlines, McDonald's, Target, Toyota and Wachovia. Performers will include Ne-Yo, Anita Baker, Joss Stone, John Legend and many others. Presenters will include Tichina Arnold, Shemar Moore and Tom Joyner. Five-time Emmy winner Louis J. Horvitz is the executive producer and director of the show.
To view the AT&T behind-the-scenes footage, visit http://www.attblueroom.com/. For a complete list of stations, or to learn more information, visit http://www.uncf.org/aeos.
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About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/.
About An Evening of Stars(R)
An Evening of Stars (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. Lou Rawls, a spokesperson for UNCF and champion for AEOS for more than 25 years, is credited with helping raise more than $200 million to help UNCF scholarship recipients and member institutions and their students pay the cost of higher education. This year's show, now in its 29th season, was made possible by Target, which served as AEOS's first-ever "Presenting Sponsor," and by national corporate sponsors American Airlines, McDonald's, Toyota, Wachovia, and AT&T. In recent years, AEOS has featured a Who's Who of recognizable talent, including Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Nancy Wilson, Beyonce, Jill Scott, Whoopi Goldberg, Fantasia, Joss Stone, Patti LaBelle, Michael Bolton, Natalie Cole, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Hall and Oates, Ziggy Marley, Maroon 5, and scores of others. An Evening of Stars received an Image Award for its 2006 Tribute to Stevie Wonder. Additionally, this year the 2007 An Evening of Stars Tribute to Aretha Franklin received an Image Award nomination. Learn more about AEOS at http://www.uncf.org/aeos.
(C) 2008 Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. For more information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: rolf.gatlin@fleishman.com
Source: AT&T Inc.
CONTACT: Heather Woodard of AT&T Inc., +1-314-982-0289,
hwoodard@attnews.us
Web site:
http://www.att.com/
http://www.attblueroom.com/
http://www.att.com/newsroom
http://www.uncf.org/aeos
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