Social and Civic Whirl: The Urban League of Hampton Roads Held 11th Annual Changing Lives Breakfast

The Holiday Inn Hotel and Executive Center on Greenwich Road, in Virginia Beach, was the venue for  the 11th  Annual Changing Lives Breakfast sponsored by the Urban League of Hampton Roads and Old Point National Bank.  Other businesses and corporations that were instrumental in the success of the Breakfast included the Life Changer Sponsor/Walmart; Difference Maker Sponsors/Southwest Airlines and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield; PNC Mortgage, Priority Acura and Chesapeake Sheriff Department were the Motivator Sponsors; and the Media Sponsors were WHOV 88.1 FM, iHeart Media and the Hampton Roads Show.  Door Prizes were donated by PNC Mortgage/Christy Hunt, Fortis College/Rosetta Rolan, Leilani Lawrence/Anthem Health Keepers Plus and CD Hartfield/Walmart. The Community Partners were Barbara Hamm Lee/Executive Producer/Host of Another View/WHRO; Joann Snipes representing Holiday Inn Conference Center and IHeart Media representative Derrick Martin. 

Registration and Networking began at 8 a.m. followed by the Program from 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m.  Barbara Hamm Lee was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the wonderful occasion.  The Presentation of Colors and Pledge of Allegiance were led by members of the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Department.  Virginia Beach City Council Member, Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond, and Tonya Perkins, Senior Vice President of Old Point National Bank, Welcomed the Guests.  The Chairman of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, Cliff Hayes, brought Greetings to the audience.  Prior to the Invocation by Dr. Sandi Hutchinson/Pastor St. Joseph AME Zion Church, breakfast and the distribution of door prizes one of two testimonies was given. After breakfast Remarks were delivered by a representative of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, the second testimony was given.  Each person who talked about how the Urban League had helped them underscored the importance of the role the Urban League plays in assisting the community.  Dr. William M. Smalls, Pastor of New Calvary Baptist Church made a plea to the audience to give financial support stressing how their help can make a difference.  Closing remarks were given by Edith White/CEO and President of the Urban League of Hampton Roads.

During the breakfast elected officials were introduced and the National President of the Urban League Young Professionals, Carlos Clanton – a past president of the Hampton Roads Urban League.  Special thanks were given to Sharon Shields, Changing Lives Breakfast Chair and her committee; table hosts; and honorary Breakfast Chair James Church/Priority Acura.

For more information about the Urban League or how you may become a member of the Urban League or the auxiliaries the Urban League Guild or the Young Professionals of the Urban League, visit www.ulhr.org or call 627-0864.