LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ United Negro College Fund) - An all-star lineup of performers and presenters came out to celebrate the career and commitment to education of
Lionel Richie at the taping of UNCF's 31st annual television special, An Evening of Stars on this past Saturday. UNCF presented Richie with the Award of
Excellence for his successful career and longtime support for education. Richie is a graduate of the prestigious UNCF member school, Tuskegee University. An Evening of Stars (AEOS) Tribute to
Lionel Richie Presented by Target taped before a live audience at the Pasadena Civic in Pasadena, California and will air nationwide on January 23rd and 24th, 2010 on BET Networks and WGN and on more than 40 stations in major cities.
This year's roster of performers included nine-time Grammy Award winner Natalie Cole, Akon, Jesse McCartney, Grammy-Award winner, Chrisette Michele, Boney James, Katharine McPhee, Ledisi, Johnny Gill, James Ingram, Brian McKnight, Mary Mary's Erica Campbell and 25-time Grammy Award winner Stevie Wonder.
A parade of celebrities joined UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael Lomax and performers in celebrating Richie. Presenters included Tom Joyner, Shemar Moore, Terrence Howard, Romeo, Cedric The Entertainer, Justin Chambers, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Gina Ravera, Tracie Thoms, Regina King, Lauren Velez, Paige Hurd, Terri Crews, Suzanne de Passe, Merri Dee, Extra's AJ Calloway and Access Hollywood's Shaun Robinson.
"It is such an honor to receive this award from UNCF," said Lionel Richie. "I am a product of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and that experience has had a tremendous influence on my life. I understand the importance of a college education and the impact it can have on our children and our nation. I am honored to join stars like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Lou Rawls, Quincy Jones, Smokey Robinson and Patti LaBelle who have received UNCF's Award of Excellence and who support UNCF and its students."
UNCF also launched "STAR POWER," its second AEOS online campaign. STAR POWER gives Americans a chance to help deserving students go to college. From September 12, 2009 through January 25, 2010, education supporters will be able to join regional teams to help UNCF raise awareness for minority education and raise funds to help students go to college. All donors are encouraged to post the StarPower link on their Facebook and MySpace pages. To learn more, visit www.UNCF.org and click on the STAR POWER icon.
"STAR POWER is a great way for people to stand with UNCF in support of giving all Americans the opportunity to get a college education," said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D. UNCF president and CEO. "President Obama has committed the country to regaining world leadership in the percentage of citizens with college degrees. Lionel Richie and all the artists who participated in this year's AEOS are contributing to the achievement of this goal. We hope everyone will follow their example, and visit www.uncf.org and click on Star Power to help kids get the college degrees they need and our nation needs them to have."
Woven throughout An Evening of Stars are reminders of UNCF's work on behalf of education. There is a special appreciation of Michael Jackson, which recalled the King of Pop's legacy of generosity and foresight in endowing a UNCF scholarship program that has helped more than 500 students graduate from UNCF member colleges. Another segment focused on the scholarship program established by Cedric the Entertainer, and included a visit by Cedric to scholarship recipients. A segment about UNCF's highly successful Gates Millennium Scholars Program, funded by the foundation established by Bill and Melinda Gates reports that the program is being seen as a blueprint for increasing the number of college graduates and helping to meet the President's objective..
This year's show was made possible by Target, the Presenting Sponsor of AEOS, and by national corporate sponsors McDonald's and AT&T. Official sponsors of An Evening of Stars are American Airlines, Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., BET Networks and WGN.
Returning for his 13th year as executive producer and director of UNCF's "An Evening of Stars" was six-time Emmy Award winner Louis J. Horvitz. Horvitz has directed the annual Academy Awards telecast for 13 years, helmed the Prime Time Emmy Awards, and directed The Kennedy Center Honors. Also returning for their 13th year were producers Cort Casady and Bill Urban, who were joined by producer Deborah Read.
For more information on AEOS, STARPOWER and UNCF, visit www.uncf.org.
