THE 2009 BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ AWARDS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER WILL HONOR MARY J. BLIGE, RAVEN SYMONÉ, SONIA SANCHEZ, NAOMI CAMPBELL, JANELLE MONÁE, DR. MEHRET MANDEFRO AND OTHERS
WHO: Hosts Regina King and Tracee Ellis Ross. The 2009 honorees include Grammy Award winner Mary J. Blige, trailblazer, entrepreneur, & actress Raven Symoné, legendary poet and playwright Sonia Sanchez, Wondaland Arts Society/Atlantic recording artist Janelle Monáe, supermodel and fashion Icon, Naomi Campbell and TruthAIDS founder, activist and White House Fellow, Dr. Mehret Mandefro. Other participants include: actress Kerry Washington, philanthropist Jessica Seinfeld, Essence Magazine's Emil Wilbekin, renowned visual artist Vic Muniz, multi-platinum producer Bryan-Michael Cox and more. The full list of honorees for The Fourth Annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™Awards will be announced on September 15th.
WHAT: The Fourth Annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™Awards will be held on Saturday, October 17th, at the new and exciting Times Center located in the heart of New York City's vibrant Times Square District. Founded by philanthropist and internationally acclaimed DJ, Beverly Bond, the annual benefit is BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™Inc.'s main fundraising event to provide creative arts programs and mentoring for teenage women of color. In the past, the awards have brought together a cadre of some of the most influential names in entertainment, business, education, fashion, politics and philanthropy. Honorees and participants have included Iman, Erykah Badu, Jennifer Hudson, Melvin Van Peebles, Chrisette Michele, President of Spelman College, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, Bethann Hardison, Missy Elliot, Veronica Webb, Susan L. Taylor, Pam Grier, Idris Elba, Estelle, Ryan Leslie, Sylvia Rhone and more.
WHERE: The New York Times Center
242 West 41st Street
New York, NY 10018
WHEN: Saturday, October 17th, 2009
Red Carpet Arrivals: 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Ceremony: 8:00 – 10:00 PM
WHY: BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit, youth empowerment mentoring
organization established for young women of color with a mission to promote the arts and encourage positive life-changing activity, critical thinking, and promotes a more balanced and positive depiction of women of color in entertainment and the media.