Start with an exquisite ballroom, add top-notch entertainment, distinguished men and women and an outstanding dining experience and what do you have — the 18th Annual Trumpet Awards dinner. The heralded event is one of the nation’s most anticipated occasions of it’s kind recognizing the achievements of African Americans and honoring the accomplishments of a select group of noble men and women who have consistently demonstrated unprecedented commitment to performance in their respective fields while inspiring others to follow the path of dedication and enrichment.
The contributions of The Trumpet Awards’ 2010 honorees have impacted the lives of millions and offer the promise of an improved quality of life for people throughout the country irrespective of race, gender and economic circumstance. “I make this trip to Atlanta every year, along with a number of other people from all over the country because it is such a worthy cause,” adds Judge Craig Strong of Detroit.
Delicate and demure in stature, but larger than life Trumpet Awards founder, Xernona Clayton is well acquainted with overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to bring an idea or a dream to fruition. “We are here tonight to celebrate this weekend with the most marvelous and most stimulating reasons [to] help fill the missing pages of history. As we all know segregation and discrimination have ignored some of our people because of our race. And yet we all knew that there were African Americans using their God-given talents to contribute to the richness of this great world in spite of the fact that our voices were not heard and our presence was ignored,” said a reverent and reflective Clayton following the presentation of the Xernona Clayton Drive street sign that will be erected on an undetermined street in Atlanta.
The Trumpet Awards have donated over $4 million to charitable and educational causes. Following the awards ceremony, 12 Trumpet Awards scholarships were presented to deserving young people to carry the Trumpet Award legacy forward. -roz edward
