Walter Williams, one of the original O'Jays, performs Thursday at the Knoxville Convention Center.
We dined. We danced. We sang along to the O’Jays. We even got a little teary-eyed as the sweet Love Kitchen sisters won a lifetime achievement award.
It was the annual Knoxville Area Urban League Equal Opportunity Awards Gala Thursday night at the Knoxville Convention Center. It was a sell-out and it was a blast!
The Love Kitchen sisters, Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner, received the Whitney M. Young Lifetime Achievement Award because of their work feeding Knoxville’s needy. This award is very special and is not given every year. The twin sisters, both 83 years old and frail, were in wheelchairs before being helped on stage to receive their award. But they were probably in the best spirits of any of the 840 folks in the packed ballroom. They are a living testament to the joy-bringing power of faith in God’s love. Click here to go to the Love Kitchen website to see for yourself the work of these beautiful ladies.
Other award winners Thursday were Denark Construction, which won the Corporate Leadership Award (Moxley Carmichael is grateful to have won this award in 2007); Lonsdale Market & Deli, which won the Minority Business Award, and Chuck Christiansen, who won the Volunteer of the Year Award.
The Knoxville Area Urban League, which is a pro-bono client of Moxley Carmichael, is one of 100 affiliates of the National Urban League. The Knoxville group was established in 1968 and is committed to providing a skilled and diverse work force for our community, increasing home ownership, supporting economic and small business development, and enhancing education. In the past year alone, the Knoxville Area Urban League has
- provided 2,590 job readiness services to more than 400 people resulting in 82 job placements;
- provided housing counseling to 389 people;
- provided mortgage default assistance to 149 people;
- helped 52 people purchase their first homes;
- managed a small business loan portfolio of $2.5 million;
- donated nearly 1,000 pair of new shoes and school supplies to children most in need.
The annual Equal Opportunity Gala is the Urban League’s largest fundraiser of the year. Here are highlights.
Urban League CEO Phyllis Nichols chats with Walter Williams, one of the O'Jays, at a VIP reception prior to their performance. The reception, hosted by U.S. Cellular, was for the evening's largest sponsors.
Terry Strickland poses with O'Jay Eddie Levert.
Tom Catani of U.S. Cellular, left, and his wife Deanene Catani of the News Sentinel, right, chat with Tom's competitor and fellow Urban League Board member Alan Hill of AT&T. They were pulling together for a good cause.
Knoxville Mayor Daniel Brown presented a proclamation to the O'Jays. From left, O'Jay Walter Williams, Mayor Brown, Cathy Brown, O'Jays Eddie Levert and Eric Grant.
Phyllis Nichols and Urban League Board chair Peyton Hairston, right, pose with the O'Jays during the reception.
WVLT's Angela Starke was one of the evening's emcees. Here she and her husband, Drew Starke, left, pose with the O'Jays. Drew is on the Urban League board. The other emcee for the evening was Fuad Reveiz.
Here are Phyllis Nichols and Peyton Hairston backstage, waiting for the program to start.
Ellen Turner, one of the Love Kitchen sisters, is wheeled to the elevator by a Scripps intern after receiving her award.
Stephanie Halouma of Scripps Networks, right, points out a photographer to Love Kitchen sister Helen Ashe.
KCDC's Alvin Nance and Juanita Cannon were dinner partners.
Gwen and County Commissioner Sam McKenzie at our dinner table
LeTonia and state Rep. Joe Armstrong were fun tablemates of mine!
Tank and Terry Strickland were at a Moxley Carmichael table.
WBIR's Leigh White, left, and Knoxville's First Lady Cathy Brown made our table lively!
Cindy McConkey, left, of Scripps popped over to say hi to our guests Richard and Dawn Ford.
KCDC Board member Culver Schmid with his wife, Linda, left, and Cynthia Finch
And then it was showtime! Here is O'Jay Eric Grant.
The dance floor immediately filled up!
The ladies from WVLT really rocked! From left, Lauren Davis, Angela Starke and Lena Sadiwskyj
Here are Mayor Dan and Cathy Brown.
Nikitia and LeRoy Thompson
Shaun Fulco and Roger Hyver. Shaun is the CFO at Moxley Carmichael.
Michael and Alice Wirth
LaTanya and Dennis Upton
Jaquetta Brooks dances with tablemate Scott Bird of Moxley Carmichael.
Dawn and Richard Ford
Moxley Carmichael's Ellen Robinson and husband Peter Acly
Cynthia Finch and Alan Carmichael
Sweet! Patrick and Tiffany Powell
Gwen McKenzie says hello to Warren Logan, Jr., the CEO of the Urban League in Chattanooga.
Theotis and Jonida Robinson
Cheryl Masur, left, provided the voice for the Urban League's video. She's with Kristy Bruce of Scripps.
Phyllis Nichols and Mary Bogert, executive director of the Convention Center, bask in the glow of a successful event.
Board member Rosalyn Tillman, left, and Urban League employee Michelle Henry chat after the event. (Michelle also works part-time for Moxley Carmichael.)
Jay and Marga Hayes McBride paused for a photo on their way out.
Urban League employees Brenda Roper, left, and Ola Blackmon-McBride
Jim and Phyllis Nichols say goodnight! Great evening!
Thrilled to have been on the “Love Train.” The KAUL is a terrific organization — and, they throw a great party!
I think this is one of the best, if not the best, events of the year in Knoxville. The entertainment is always fabulous! The program was superb and the convention center is the perfect venue for this event. They did an awesome job handling the 850+ crowd. Hands down, a GREAT night. I’m excited about next year already!
Thanks, Ellen and Shaun! Who do you think the Urban League should bring as entertainment next year?
Cynthia,
Thanks for capturing our “Party with a Purpose.” The Urban League appreciates the board, volunteers and the companies who make this event successful so we serve the community. AND, If you see me on the street, don’t ask who’s coming next year! 🙂
I love the Urban League for all the wonderful work they do for our community and they throw an awesome party!!!! It was a very fun evening!!!
Beyonce!
I hope Phyllis is reading this and gets Alan’s suggestion!
Cynthia, great pictures of a wonderful event. We were indeed on “The Love Train”. What quick coverage!
Gosh, what a fantastic event. We were out of town and missed a great time.
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