10th Annual Dr. Edison O. Jackson Single Fathers Scholarship Awards

Brooklyn Museum of Art, May 4, 2004

Brooklyn, NY

In today’s times, it is common to learn about children who either never met their father (their fathers left before they were born) or who’s fathers are practically like strangers. It is therefore highly commendable when a father not only takes excellent care of his children, but does so while single, and while going to school.

The Dr. Edison O. Jackson Single Fathers Scholarship Fund just celebrated its tenth year. It is still, until this day, the only scholarship fund of its kind at any institution, be it public or private. This scholarship fund, as a community and college initiative, has the potential to impact many, many lives of single fathers who are students of the City University of New York (CUNY) and nationwide, just as it has already positively impacted the lives of many past scholarship recipients.

The support of the fund is made manifest through the transformation of the lives of many fathers who actively take on the task of raising their children while they pursue a higher education. The Male Development & Empowerment Center is a direct result of the type of impact that the EOJ Single Fathers Scholarship Fund has made. Its mission is to encourage leadership among urban males in their respective communities by enhancing their base of knowledge and understanding via higher education, thereby raising their economic status.

This was a great event, one that was designed to show tremendous encouragement among the community, particularly among single fathers making great sacrifices. The program started with a lovely cocktail reception amidst a very distinguished group of intellectual folks from a diverse array of professions and businesses.

Everyone was then invited to dinner, where they all sat down to a lovely buffet. The first speaker to come to the stage was the emcee, Mrs. Kathy Sharpton. Mrs. Sharpton gave a brief overview of the organization and then introduced Dr Edison O Jackson, President of Medgar Evers College who gave the audience a warm welcome.

The audience was wonderfully entertained by the Rev. Timothy Wright and his New York Fellowship Mass Choir performance, led by singer Patti LaBelle, one of the honorees for the night, who won the Rainbow Award.

We also heard a few word from Patti LaBelle, as she talked about Peter Holoman and how his sister called Patti when he was very ill after having double brain surgery. Patti told us how inspiring it was for his sister to call her asking her to come and say a few words to her brother, Peter.

Syndney Moshette, Jr was also honored with the Community Service Award. His organization, which he founded and Administrator and Executive Director, is the Reality House, which, through grass-roots efforts, helps to reduce chemical dependency, AIDS and infant mortality.

The Open Line & Week-in-Review team, from Kiss 98.7 FM, were also honored for their long-standing commitment to radio broadcasting.

This was a wonderful event, and we at Liberty News Online would like to thank Mr. Chris Chung Lee and Mr. Fred Price, for assisting us throughout the course of the event by gathering people together for picture-taking. Anyone interested in learning more about Medgar Evers College may visit their website at www.mec.cuny.edu.

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