Earlier this month, Ifill Events, LLC was honored to engage its passion for education with UNCF New York for its 5th Annual “A Mind is…” Hamptons Summer Benefit weekend.
Ifill Events joined UNCF New York for the first time this year, organizing events held on August 6th and 7th in East Hampton and Sag Harbor, New York. The widely recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste”, spread through the local weekend papers. The publications highlighted this year’s events entertained in private residences that included host Nancy Silberkleit, a co-CEO of Archie Comics. SiriusXM radio talk show host Karen Hunter, emceed the premier event on August 6th.
Catered by Food & Co., the interactive benefit included live SiriusXM interviews, video installments, Lincoln MKZ Black Label user-demos, and an exclusive fashion preview of designer Carlton Jones’ Resort 2017 collection. Rain was strategically kept at bay while donors and honored guests enjoyed a decadent menu of light bites while perusing exclusive auction items like Hamilton tickets and golfing in Scotland.
Surpassing the weekend goal, the benefit raised over $300,000 for New York students on the path of making it to and through college. In its 72-year history, UNCF has raised more than $4.5 billion to support minority student’s quest for better futures.
The UNCF awarded filmmaker and writer Reginald Hudlin, Derek Jones, managing director GCM Grosvenor Private Markets, and Cathy Hughes, media pioneer and founder of Radio One, Inc. with the “Keepers of the Flame” honor for being champions of diversity and education.
Ifill Events felt inspired by the UNCF’s passion for advocating the importance of minority education and college readiness. Mr. Hughes shared, “the status and the money that I have been blessed with in this life…is so I can reach back help some other black children who are just like me. That’s the story of UNCF – you reach back.” This sentiment was shared by touching testimonials of young UNCF scholars, humbly poised to give back themselves.
Inspired by the cause, MC Karen Hunter interviewed UNCF President Dr. Michael Lomax for an insightful discussion in a unique location. In the quiet luxury of the new Lincoln MKZ, the two discussed activism in the younger generation. Reflecting that these activists are not anti-police, and simply want justice. Dr. Lomax recalled the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the campus of Morehouse College during his senior year. He saw in Dr. King as a young man who risked his life so that he could have a better life. Dr. Lomax was moved to realize that, “I have to pay it forward. I have a responsibility.”
Ifill Events joins UNCF New York in thanks to Combs Enterprises, GCM Grosvenor, Grain Management, Derek Jones, Lincoln Motor Company, Moet Hennessy and many other generous donors and guests who contributed to the spirit and energy for the education of our future!
