Black United Fund’s 25th Anniversary Gala at DuSable Museum in Chicago Highlights Mentors

The Black United Fund of Illinois recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and 10th Annual Living Legends Passing the Torch Awards recently at the DuSable Museum. Recipients are recognized for mentoring others to pick up the staff and carry on their vision. Honorees included: accountant Ayton Taylor and his three children, Ayton H.I., Sharon and Micahel; entrepreneur Doris Zollar who passed the torch to daughter, and ad agency founder Tom Burrell who passed the torch to McGee Williams Osse and Fay Ferguson. Educators and international activists Edward “Buzz” and Alice Palmer received lifetime achievement awards.  
Merri Dee, president AARP and the Illinois Army Ambassador, and Elzie Higginbottom, CEO of East lake Management and Development Corporation served as the event’s co-chairs and and WGN anchorwoman Micah Mattere and WVON radio personality Cliff Kelly acted as the mistress and master of ceremonies.

BUFI is a 501 (c)3 tax exempt organization that supports the principles of self-help, mutual aid and voluntary civic participation in African American communities. It is dedicated to affecting social and economic change by ensuring that resources are directed to communities that need them the most. BUFI’s legacy awards represents the importance of preparing future generations by transferring skill sets and a sense of history from one generation to the next.

BUFI has provided technical assistance in Illinois to major black cultural institution in Chicago for more than 25 years. In addition the organization has distributed over 20 million dollars to African American communities and causes in the state of Illinois. The Black United Fund of Illinois is an affiliate of the National Black United Fund, the largest black philanthropic organization in the United States with chapters in over 50 cities throughout America. Sponsors of the event included U.S. Cellular, Peoples Gas and rollingout.com.–bernard williams