Page 4 - CEO Impact Awards, 2024

Thurgood Marshall College Fund
901 F Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004 Phone: 202.507.4851 Fax: 202.652.2934
Greetings and welcome to the inaugural Thurgood Marshall College Fund CEO Impact Award Breakfast. We are thrilled you could join us here in Charlotte.
First and foremost, I must express gratitude to the host committee chairs, Robert A. Engel and Jeffrey J. Brown, and the honorary committee members, the Honorable Congresswoman Alma Adams and Harvey B. Gantt, on behalf of our founder, Dr. N. Joyce Payne, and Chair
of the Board Racquel Oden. Because of their efforts, we can gather together and honor a noteworthy and accomplished role model.
We are honored to recognize Marvin R. Ellison today with the prestigious Thurgood Marshall College Fund Impact Award. His significant accomplishments and contributions to society have helped permanently improve the lives of students across the country. Please join me in congratulating Marvin and thanking him for his hospitality and contributions. We’re also thrilled to honor and recognize Zandra Sue Johnson, the first recipient of the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Trailblazer Award for her impact on education and humanity.
I must also express my appreciation to the mayor and great citizens of Charlotte for being the inaugural site of this event. Choosing this location was intentional, as this city, its mayor, sponsors, and donors have long championed the importance of higher education
and the Black college community, recognizing the transformational power of both.
Finally, I thank each of you for attending today and knowing the importance of financially supporting HBCUs and their students. It is no secret that these institutions have been historically underfunded by hundreds of millions to billions of dollars over the last three decades. Despite that, we also know that these institutions improve student outcomes by a larger margin than many schools. While it’s admirable what has been achieved with less, imagine what an even playing field might yield. Help us to continue to support these students with your gift today by visiting fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/ImpactNowCLT.
Again, thank you for joining us in our mission
to remove barriers and advance the Black college community. Our commitment to you is to continue to put bright minds to work by ensuring deserving students graduate and enter sustainable careers.
Sincerely,
Dr. Harry L. Williams President & CEO
Email: info@tmcf.org
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