Greater Washington Urban League Celebrates 75 Years Of Service In The Washington Metropolitan Area

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, D.C. - March 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Washington, DC)—The Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL) will commemorate 75 years of service in metropolitan Washington at its annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial Gala tonight.

Once known as the Washington Urban League, the GWUL initially sought—through community activism and education—to increase employment opportunities and improve the living conditions of blacks who moved to the District of Columbia during the Great Migration.

Today, the GWUL steadfastly continues its mission to increase the economic and political empowerment of African Americans, but the organization has evolved. Programs and services now encompass the needs of all minorities, as well as persons who are economically disadvantaged—with a vision of every American sharing equally in the responsibilities and rewards of full citizenship.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Maudine R. Cooper, the organization has seen much progress. Within the past two decades, the GWUL has more than doubled its program offerings, launched a young professionals auxiliary, and moved into new, larger headquarters in historic Columbia Heights.

Annually, the organization provides services to more than 65,000 residents in the Washington, D.C. region. Key program areas include education, employment and training, health and nutrition, utility assistance, affordable housing, weatherization, and community development.

“It has been a true honor and blessing to serve the Greater Washington Urban League these past 20 years,” Ms. Cooper said. “I am so proud of where we’ve been, and look forward to where we’re going.”

At this year’s gala, the GWUL will honor three individuals and one company with the Whitney M. Young Jr. Community Service Award for their outstanding contributions to the community over the years.

These individuals and corporation include:

§     Bernard Demczuk, Asst. VP for District Relations, The George Washington University

§     Linda Cropp, Former District of Columbia Council Chair

§     Karen Price-Ward, Community Affairs and Grassroots Manager, Southwest Airlines

§     Safeway

GWUL will also present six individuals with the new Media Titans Award. Media Titans are characterized as local media professionals who use their public influence as a platform to serve and shed light on the needs of the DC community. Media Titans being honored include:

§     Maureen Bunyan, News Anchor, ABC7, WJLA-TV

§     Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher, Washington Informer

§     Colbert King, Opinion Writer, The Washington Post

§     Joe Madison, Host, The Black Eagle, XM Sirius Satellite Radio

§     Kojo Nnamdi, Host, The Kojo Nnamdi Show

§     Jim Vance, News Anchor, NBC4, WRC-TV

Scholarship awards for post-secondary education—totaling more than $50,000—will be presented to 22 local high school seniors. The scholarships were generously donated by the Charlotte Elizabeth Yancey Eights Trust, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, General Dynamics, GWUL Alumni Group, Safeway, GWUL Thursday Network, and the Pepsi Beverages Company.

Thirteen of those scholarships will be awarded to the children of American veterans. GWUL wants to recognize the families of those who have served by helping their children afford the opportunity to attend a post-secondary education institution.

The gala, hosted by NBC4 anchors Danella Sealock and Aaron Gilchrist, will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park at 6:30 PM. A silent auction featuring more than 100 big-ticket items will begin at 5:30PM. The event is proudly sponsored by Walmart, Pepco, Reingold LINK, Capital One, Comcast, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, GEICO, General Dynamics, Jack H. Olender & Associates, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo, Safeway, Southwest Airlines, and NBC4, among others. The Duke Ellington School of the Arts Show Choir will provide the night’s entertainment.

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About the Greater Washington Urban League

The Greater Washington Urban League, founded in 1938, is a nonprofit social services organization with offices in the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County, MD. It is one of more than 100 affiliates of the National Urban League. The mission of the Greater Washington Urban League is to increase the economic and political empowerment of blacks and other minorities, and to help all Americans share equally in the responsibilities and rewards of full citizenship. Key program areas include education, workforce training, health, housing, and community development. For more information, visit www.gwul.org or contact Communications Director Robyn Wilkes at rwilkes@gwul.org.