UNCF Announces National Television Broadcast of an Evening of Stars (R) Tribute to Smokey Robinson

UNCF Announces National Television Broadcast of an Evening of Stars (R) Tribute to Smokey Robinson

FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) will broadcast its An Evening of Stars(R) Tribute to Smokey Robinson nationally on more than 40 network stations in major markets including WGN Superstation at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST on January 26, and on, BET on January 27th at 10 p.m.EST/9 p.m. CST. The tribute to Robinson marks the 29th consecutive year of UNCF's annual television special. A complete list of stations, background information and media contacts can be found online at http://www.uncf.org/AEOS.

As singer-composer Smokey Robinson celebrates 50 years in music this year, he will be surrounded by the greatest talent in entertainment, education, sports and politics as he is presented with the UNCF Award of Excellence. The award cites his long entertainment career and support for UNCF and minority education.

This year's program will feature award-winning singers Yolanda Adams, Anita Baker, Macy Gray, Heather Headley, Chris Isaak, John Legend, Kenny Lattimore, Chante Moore, Ne-Yo, Joss Stone, Nancy Wilson and Stevie Wonder. Presenters will include Tichina Arnold and Tyler James Williams from Everybody Hates Chris; former Saturday Night Live actor-comedian Jimmy Fallon; Hill Harper from CSI-NY; Taraji P. Henson from Hustle and Flow; LisaRaye McCoy-Misick from All of Us; Shemar Moore from Criminal Minds; Kimberly Elise from Close to Home and The Great Debaters; syndicated radio host and HBCU fundraiser, Tom Joyner; Shaun Robinson, co-host of Access Hollywood, and NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Special taped appearances include Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, and Martha Reeves. Motown Records founder and music industry icon, Berry Gordy will present the Award of Excellence to Smokey Robinson. Five-time Emmy Award winner, Louis J. Horvitz is executive producer and director of An Evening of Stars(R).

The 29th AEOS will also honor the legendary song stylist and actress Nancy Wilson with UNCF's first Founder's Award for her more than 30-year involvement with the nation's largest minority scholarship fund.

"This year's An Evening of Stars(R) program is filled with high energy performances that interpret Smokey Robinson's extensive song book as we celebrate his legacy in the music industry and his dedication to minority education," said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF president and CEO. "We are grateful for the support of all of our celebrities, sponsors and supporters who enable UNCF to help promising students get the college degrees they need and deserve."

Target serves as the first-ever "Presenting Sponsor" of An Evening of Stars(R) (AEOS). National corporate sponsors of AEOS include American Airlines, Toyota, McDonald's, Wachovia and AT&T.

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. 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(R)'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(R) received an Image Award for its 2006 Tribute to Stevie Wonder. Additionally, this year the 2007 An Evening of Stars(R) Tribute to Aretha Franklin received an Image Award nomination. Learn more about AEOS at http://www.uncf.org/aeos.

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, increase minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college, and serve as a national advocate for minority education. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 25 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, 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. For 35 years, UNCF has been known by its iconic motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste"(R). Learn more about UNCF at http://www.uncf.org/

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FCMN Contact:

Source: United Negro College Fund

CONTACT: Joye Griffin of the United Negro College Fund, +1-703-205-3480,
joye.griffin@uncf.org; or Shawn Paul Wood of SPM Communications,
+1-214-379-7000, for the United Negro College Fund

Web Site:

http://www.uncf.org/

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