Golden Fellowship Dinner
Where: Hilton Chicago
Address: 720 S Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605
When: Saturday, November 4th, 6:30pm
Tickets: Start at $600.00. Purchase Tixs Here
The 56th Annual Chicago Urban League Golden Fellowship Dinner is right around the corner. This year’s performer is R&B Singer, Producer, and Songwriter Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.
The League’s largest annual fundraiser, the Golden Fellowship Dinner draws more than 1,700 of the city’s corporate leaders, human rights advocates, philanthropists, clergy and elected officials. This year’s theme, Beyond 100: Together We Matter, highlights the organization’s entrance in its second century of service to Chicago’s African American community.
James D. Montgomery, Sr. to Receive Edwin C. “Bill” Berry Civil Rights Award
and Senator Emil Jones, Jr. to Receive the Lester H. McKeever, Jr. Individual
Service Award at Chicago Urban League’s 56th Annual Golden Fellowship Dinner
Benefit Gala, Themed “Together We Matter,” set for November 4
CHICAGO (Oct 3, 2017)—The Chicago Urban League is pleased to announce its Edwin C. “Bill”
Berry Civil Rights Award and Lester H. McKeever, Jr. Individual Service Award honorees for the
56th Annual Golden Fellowship Dinner benefit gala. The highly anticipated event will take place
Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the Hilton Chicago located at 720 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago.
This year, the coveted “Bill” Berry Civil Rights Award will be presented to James D.
Montgomery, Sr., noted civil rights attorney and community activist. The Lester H. McKeever,
Jr. Individual Service Award will be presented to Senator Emil Jones, Jr., progressive legislator,
and long-time proponent of social justice and fair funding of public education.
Named for Bill Berry, CEO of the Chicago Urban League from 1956-1969 and key activist in the
Civil Rights Movement, the award is given annually to leaders who make a mark locally and
nationally through hard work, perseverance and creativity.
The Lester H. McKeever, Jr. Individual Service Award is named for long-time CPA, Accounting
firm Principal and Chicago Urban League Lifetime Board Director Lester H. McKeever, Jr.
Created in 2016, this award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a strong
commitment to improving the quality of life for African Americans in Chicago through
volunteerism and embodies excellence through community service.
“The Golden Fellowship Dinner continues to be a driving force that fuels our mission to make a
stronger African American community and a better Chicago,” said Shari Runner, President and
CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “We are excited to continue the legacy of presenting the Bill
Berry Award and creating a new tradition with the Lester H. McKeever, Jr. Individual Service
Award.”
Previous Edwin C. “Bill” Berry Award awardees include businessman and publisher John H.
Johnson (posthumously), noted Chicago historian, activist, and philanthropist Timuel Black,
legendary opera diva Jessye Norman, civil rights activists Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Rev. Willie T.
Barrow, Hank R. Schwab, and Rev. Addie L. Wyatt; legendary actors Louis Gossett, Jr., Phylicia
Rashad and Cicely Tyson; and most recently, Spencer Leak, Sr., owner and president of Leak &
Sons Funeral Homes.
This year’s gala, themed “Beyond 100: Together We Matter,” highlights the League’s entrance
into its second century of service to Chicago’s African American community. It will be headlined
by 11-time Grammy winner, Songwriter Hall Of Fame inductee artist/producer/songwriter
Kenny “Babyface’ Edmonds and is co-chaired by Jim Kolar, Central Market Managing Partner of
PwC and Stephen Beard, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative
Officer of Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
For more information about the Chicago Urban League’s 56th Annual Golden Fellowship Dinner,
contact Karen Coleman at 773-451-3526 or visit www.TheChicagoUrbanLeague.org.
About the Chicago Urban League
Established in 1916, the Chicago Urban League works for economic, educational and social progress for
African Americans and promotes strong sustainable communities through advocacy, collaboration and
innovation. For more information, visit www.thechicagourbanleague.org. Find us on Facebook and
follow us on Twitter.
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