10 - september 30, 2015 the chronicle www...
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The Chronicle10 - September 30, 2015 www.charlestonchronicle.net
Radio Legend Tom Joyner Honored at Avery Research Center Affair
By Hakim Abdul-Ali
The College of Charleston'sAvery Research Center forAfrican American History andCulture held a marvelousfundraiser reception gala at its125 Bull Street location on thispast Saturday, September 26,2015. Its purpose was to high-light its fundraising activitiesand to celebrate the impact ofthe research center's lasting im-portance in the community,along with presenting its inau-gural education award.
The program spotlightednoted and nationally recog-nized radio legend Tom Joynerof the nationally syndicated"The Tom Joyner MorningShow" as its featured guestspeaker. He was also awardedAvery's initial Septima P.Clark Excellence in Black Ed-ucation Award, named for thelate South Carolina civil rightsactivist.
Known as a generous philan-thropist and a committed advo-cate for the cause of supportingthe Historically Black Collegesand Universities (HBCU),Mr. Joyner, a native ofTuskegee, Alabama, empha-sized the importance of contin-ually supporting theseinstitutions, especially intoday's financially strapped are-nas. In his speech, he salutedthe current and former staffs,educators, politicians, AveryNormal Institute alumni andothers who made and make theAvery Research Center aneeded reality.
Though his speech was some-what brief, "the original fly jockof radio" and "the hardestworking man in radio," as he islovingly known and revered bymillions, made it poignantlyclear that African-Americansmust support their colleges anduniversities in order to prepareyoung Blacks for the employ-ment endeavors ahead of them.He emphasized, in no uncer-tain wishful terms, that theseyoung people "must" be quali-fied in order to compete suc-cessfully for the elite positionsin competitive job marketsahead, regardless of their aca-
1865 in Charleston, South Car-olina, solely for the education ofAfrican-Americans.
Avery Normal Institute wasofficially closed in 1954. AveryResearch Center, as an arm ofthe College of Charleston,opened in 1985, situated in theformer Avery Normal Insti-tute's location.
Last Saturday's event was at-tended by a plethora of localdignitaries, eminent businessfolk, college administrators,former Avery Normal Institutealumni, politicians, profession-als and other select members ofthe Charleston community.The affair was sponsored byAvery Research Center, corpo-rate sponsors Denny's andSunTrust Bank, among other
The program showcasedAvery Research Center'sfundraising efforts and ultimategoal of reaching $150,000 forthe center. Dr. PatriciaWilliams Lessane, Avery Re-search Center's vibrant currentdirector, in her closing com-ments after Mr. Joyner'sspeech, made it known that thecenter was about $30,000 shortof its targeted goal. At hearingthis, Mr. Joyner, unassuminglystepped up to the plate and en-thusiastically donated $5,000towards reaching the goal.
That brought on more re-sponses from others in atten-dance in pledging anddonating additional thousandsmore to the fundraising efforts.All this was happening in a to-tally festival atmosphere of gai-ety, celebration andcommunication.
The event was sealed with asoulful, let your hair down, takeyour shoes off, foot stompingdynamic performance by theinimitable vocalist Ann Cald-well and the Eastport Band,comprising Jeffery Holt, a truly"baaad" brother on bass guitar,thumping drummer LeonStaggers and the scintillatingLarry Ford on synthesizedpiano. These awesome localmusicians "rocked" the joint asthe audience briskly intermin-gled, danced and simply en-joyed themselves in the finale toa wonderful evening.
demic interests.The program served as an im-
portant overview and reminderbecause the Avery ResearchCenter for African AmericanHistory and Culture was cele-
brating its 30th anniversary ofexistence, as it also was com-memorating the 150th anniver-sary of the hallmark foundingof the Avery Normal Institute,an institution established in
Avery Research Center for African-AmericanHistory and Culture!s director Dr. PatriciaWilliams Lesanne and radio legend Tom Joynerpose next to his Septima P. Clark Excellence inBlack Education Award on Saturday night atthe Avery Research Center. photo: Hakim Abdul-Ali
Henrietta Snipe presents Tom Joyner with aFanner Basket gift after receiving his award atthe Avery Research Center. photo: Hakim Abdul-Ali
Sister Summit FoundationHonors Living Legends,
Paving the Way forthe Next Generation
By Thetyka O. Robinson
Deona Smith, Sister Summit Foundation, Founder and ExecutiveDirector, set out to celebrate ten outstanding trailblazers who areconsistently demonstrating how they are enriching lives and inspir-ing others along the way. Those who are the embodiment of excel-lence and best of all, they are ours; members of our own communitysharing their talents and nurturing those who follow. She and herteam did just that, on September 17 at the Founders Hall onCharlestown Landing.
Congratulations to the inaugural Legacy Award winners!
Dorothy Harrison, Business Award Recipient Carolyn Hunter, Philanthropy Award RecipientMary Jackson, Arts Award Recipient Angenita Owens, Education Award RecipientRita Scott, Media Award Recipient Mabel P. Smith, Founders Award Recipient Dr. Maxine Smith, Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Dr. Ida Spruill, Health Award Recipient Thomasena Stokes-Marshall, Social Justice Award RecipientErica Wright, Rising Star Award Recipient
Deona Smith
Michelle Glover Donna Nixon
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