It’s been more than a week and I still can’t get that darned song out of my head!
Peabo Bryson gave roses to the audience at the Urban League's annual gala last week.
I was among the some 800 people at the Knoxville Convention Center last Thursday to hear two-time Grammy winner Peabo Bryson bring the crowd to its feet during the Knoxville Area Urban League’s annual Equal Opportunity Awards Gala. The song? “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again,” Bryson’s 1984 Top Ten smash hit.
It was the folks at the Urban League who had the most reason to be on their feet cheering. This year’s event raised the most money ever. Yay!
This is one spectacular night. Scripps Networks is a major sponsor — and they bring their professional know-how to the party by producing the entire evening. So everything from the centerpieces to the lighting to the video and sound is perfect. And the Convention Center is the ideal location for such a production. It’s big enough so that everyone can get around, there’s room for a large dance floor, and parking is more than adequate.
The Urban League served more than 8,000 East Tennesseans last year from all socio-economic and racial backgrounds. Among other things, the Urban League provided these resources for the greater Knoxville community:
- Employment counseling to more than 700 people and skills training to 225 people resulting in 72 job placements and 55 internships;
- Housing counseling to 449 people, foreclosure prevention and mortgage default assistance to 149 people, and help for 33 people purchasing their first homes;
- Small business loans totalling $650,000, creating 20 new jobs;
- Donation of nearly 1,000 pairs of shoes and school supplies to kids most in need.
In addition to being a great time and a successful fundraising event, the gala also is the Urban League’s occasion to distribute its annual awards:
- The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Nate Ware of U.S. Cellular;
- The Corporate Leadership Award went to Allstate, The Lonnie Jones Agency;
- The Minority Business Award went to the Hispanic Chamber of East Tennessee.
The Urban League is the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans and disadvantaged others to enter the economic and social mainstream. The Knoxville affiliate is one of the most successful in the country and I am very honored to serve on its board.
As I watched neo-Nazis march through downtown Knoxville recently, I realized that the work of the Urban League is nowhere near done. Please join the Urban League by clicking here and help us in this worthy battle against racism.
Now, back to the party!
At the VIP reception sponsored by U.S. Cellular prior to the show, our guests Richard and Dawn Ford, left, posed with the evening's masters of ceremonies, Vern Yip of HGTV and Tearsa Smith of WATE-TV.
Phyllis Nichols, center, the president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League, poses with her daughter, Tiffany, and son-in-law, Daniel Patrick Powell, at the reception.
City Councilman Duane Grieve chats with Geraldine Hall, left, and Geraldine Cody at the Moxley Carmichael table.
Other Moxley Carmichael guests, Terry Strickland and Marsha Grieve, talk during dinner.
Over at the U.S. Cellular table were Jack and Jackie Brundige.
From left, Juanita Cannon, Brian Whaley and Cynthia Finch
Alvin Nance, president and CEO of Knoxville's Community Development Corporation, left, always has a good time! Here he is with Alan Carmichael.
Balladeer Peabo Bryson took the stage -- and half the audience took to the dance floor!
Deanene and Tom Catani
Amy and John Gibson
Theotis and Jonida Robinson
Loida and Luis Velazquez
Marsha and Duane Grieve
Peabo ventures off the stage and into the audience.
Tom Catani uses his cell phone (of course!) to capture a memory.
Up close with Peabo!
Warren Logan, Jr., is president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga and a good friend of Phyllis Nichols.
Melissa Charland, left, and Mary Bogert, the beautiful general manager of the Knoxville Convention Center.
Linda and Alan Hill. He's a new Urban League board member.
Phyllis and Jim Nichols take a spin around the floor.
Dean Michael Wirth of the UT College of Communications and Information, and his wife, Alice.
State Rep. Joe Armstrong shows he knows how to boogie.
Tierney Bates, left, and Drew Starke, an Urban League board member, took a break in the lobby.
At the end, all were on their feet!
What song is Bryson playing? "Raise the Roof," of course!
During the finale, folks rushed the stage to claim a rose from Peabo.
Marsha Grieve got one!
So did Mike Charland.
Leslie and Deborah Sanderfur posed before they left.
Gloria Garner, left, a former Urban League staffer and Whitney M. Young Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award winner, greeted Phyllis Nichols at the end of the night.
Jim Nichols claimed a bouquet for his wife, the hardest working woman in the whole Urban League!
That Jim Nichols is one smart guy.