If you think high glamour and philanthropy have nothing to do with each other, you’ve never been to the annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Ball.
An event that takes place in several cities during the month of March–this year it was Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina–the annual ball is quickly becoming one of the nonprofit’s most anticipated fundraising events.
[Related: UNCF’s $50 Million Initiative to Prepare Students for 21st Century Jobs]
Thousands of guests, including UNCF alumni, educators, celebrities, dignitaries, local leaders and influencers, volunteers, forward-thinking brands and public officials turn out in ball gowns and bow ties and hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised in each city.
This year’s Los Angeles ball featured a red carpet parade of stars and dignitaries, a parade of masks, live entertainment and a live art auction. Carl Ballton, retired president of Union Bank Foundation and Helen Easterling Williams, Ed.D., Dean and Professor of Education, Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University were the night’s esteemed honorees.
(L to R) UNCF honorees Carl Ballton, retired President of Union Bank Foundation, and Helen Easterling Williams, Ed.D., Dean and Professor of Education at Pepperdine University, and Michael L. Lomax, UNCF President and CEO.
A live band entertained the crowd.
Actress Malinda Williams was in attendance.
UNCF President Michael L. Lomax helps showcase the art for the live auction.
Going once … Bidding during the live auction.
Going twice … more bidding during the live auction.
Singer Chante Moore was part of the featured entertainment.
Attendees hitting the dance floor after the parade of masks.
The mission of the United Negro College Fund is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of under-represented students who, because of UNCF support, become highly qualified college graduates and to ensure that our network of member institutions is a respected model of best practice in moving students to and through college.
UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. Since its founding in 1944, it has raised more than $4.5 billion to help more than 400,000 students receive college degrees at UNCF-member institutions and with UNCF scholarships.