Steve Harvey hosted the sold-out Chicago Urban League 50th Annual Golden Fellowship Dinner held Saturday at the Hilton Chicago.
More than 1,600 of Chicago’s elite business, civic, religious and political leaders supported the fundraiser that included a VIP golden carpet procession, and a performance by Patti LaBelle.
The Chicago Urban League was founded in 1961 by a multiracial group of community leaders led by Edwin C. “Bill” Berry. Former Chicago Urban League president James W. Compton received the C. “Bill” Berry Civil Rights Award last night.
During her remarks Chicago Urban League President and CEO Andrea Zopp noted that the role of the League must be expanded to address the issues that African Americans face today.
“The promises of the Civil Rights Movement have not yet been truly realized and it is clear that the Chicago Urban League’s work to ensure that African Americans can fully access the opportunities that our country and city have to offer and can fully contribute to growing and building stronger communities, is as important now as it was at our founding 95 years ago or when this dinner was started 50 years ago,” Zopp said.
“Our history, our longevity is not a weakness or a liability. It is a strength. It is the foundation on which we will ground our efforts as we refuse to go backward and we most decidedly and assuredly step forward.”
