Modern History Makers To Be Honored At Congress Of Racial Equality's MLK Dinner
On Monday, January 18, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), America’s third oldest and largest civil rights organization, will host its 25th Anniversary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ambassadorial Reception and Awards Dinner at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, 52nd Street at Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. The Black Tie or National Dress reception begins at 6:30 p.m., dinner and awards begin at 7:30 p.m. Emmy Award-winning actress Lynn Whitfield will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies.
This special Silver Anniversary gala celebrates three of the nation’s most interesting history-makers.
The honorees are:
· Mrs. Tova Leidesdorf, widow of a descendant of California’s first African/Danish and Jewish entrepreneur and first American diplomat of African ancestry William A. Leidesdorf. A New Yorker for most of her life, she grew up in poverty, a Haifa, Israel and became a prominent international philanthropist. Tova has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the life of William Leidesdorf, a little-known, but influential man in United States, African American and Jewish history. She has also continued the philanthropic efforts of her late husband Arthur, as well as his father, Samuel, which included:
* helping to create the Israeli Bonds program,
* assisting with the establishment of the United Negro College Fund,
* helping to build the 92nd Street Y,
* bringing Albert Einstein to America,
* creating the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton, and
* strengthening the coalition between Christians and Jews
· Hon. Michael Steele, first African American elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee, and
· Hon. James Young, first African American Mayor of Philadelphia, Mississippi, a city previously best known as the site of the murder of CORE workers and civil rights heroes James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1964.
The organizers are:
· Roy Innis, National Chairman, CORE
· Niger Innis, National Spokesman, CORE
Robin Verges, 212-843-8075; cell: 917-370-5173
