Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc. Celebrated The 26th Whitney M. Young, Jr. Dinner

The 26th Whitney M. Young Dinner began with a VIP Reception, at the Marriott Waterside located in downtown Norfolk.  During the VIP Reception, the 2016 Award recipients were presented. JD Meyer/Senior Vice President and Region Manager and Andrea Bradley, Underwriting Assistant Vice President of GEICO Welcomed the Guests.

The Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award was presented to Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA by Ann A. Adams, Vice President of Human Resources/Norfolk Southern. Armada Hoffler was the recipient of the A. Phillip Randolph Award which was presented by the Director of the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development Warren Harris.  Attorney Kelly of the firm Williams Mullen had the honor of awarding Dr. L. D. Britt, Henry Ford Professor and Edward J. Brickhouse Chairman of Eastern Virginia Medical School, the Marian Palmer Capps Award.  The Vivian C. Mason Award was given to Joel Rubin the Founder and President of the Rubin Communications Group by Victor Branch Richmond Market President/Bank of America.  A senior at Warwick High School/Newport News Hezekiah Scott; and De’Ante Walters a junior at Phoebus High School/Hampton received the Jocelyn P. Goss Award.  These awards were presented by Mark Johnson Vice President of Community Development Manager at SunTrust Bank and Deborah Hunt Vice President of the Urban League Guild of Hampton Roads and Owner of Hunt Homes. The James V. Koch Award was presented to Tonya Perkins/Senior Vice President/Norfolk City Executive at Old Point Bank was presented by Cliff Hayes who is the Urban League Board Chair.  JD Myers and Andrea Bradley did the Closing Remarks.

Following the VIP Reception, the Awards Dinner was held with Alisha Ebrahimji, WVEC-TV 13 News Anchor serving as Mistress of Ceremonies.  The Presentation of Colors was done by members of the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Department.  Recording Artist Jarissa Denee Worst sang the National Anthem.  Will Sessoms, Mayor of Virginia Beach, brought Greetings; Attorney Monroe Kelly, III, of Williams Mullen, Whitney M. Young, Jr., Dinner Chair, Welcomed the Guests.  Senior Vice President, National Urban League, Herman Lessard, brought greetings from the National Urban League; A special Presentation was done by the Urban League Board Chair and Urban League Board Member Cliff Hayes and Toya Sosa respectively; and Rev. Dr. Leroy Briggs of the Norfolk Police Department did the Invocation.  During dinner, RaJazz entertained the guests with their delightful music and the silent auction bibs concluded.

Rev. Melvin Mariner Senior Pastor of Grove Baptist Church, following dinner, called the audience to action by asking them to contribute monetary gifts to the Urban League.  The Trailblazer Award was presented to Attorney Benjamin L. Crump, President/National Bar Association inspiring and motivational words brought applause and cheers from those assembled.  Edith White, President and CEO of the Urban League of Hampton Roads, introduced the Speaker of the Evening the Honorable Ralph Northam – Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  His remarks were well received by the dinner guests.  Following the Lieutenant Governor’s remarks, Louisa Strayhorn, President and CEO of LSA Consulting, LLC, introduced the 2016 award recipients.  Sponsor acknowledgement was done by Tom Hasty SEVP, Chief Regulatory and Risk Management Officer of Towne Bank.

During the course of evening, a slide presentation Honoring EDITH G. WHITE, retiring President and CEO of The Urban League of Hampton Roads was shown and words of gratitude were expressed.

Closing Remarks were done by Patricia Richardson, President and Publisher of The Virginian-Pilot.  Rev. Dr. Joseph P. Lee, Pastor of Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church did the Benediction.