Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) will host its seventh annual Legacy Leaders Spring Gala on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 6 p.m. at the Marina Del Rey Marriott. This year, the Gala will honor the accomplishments and contributions of Anthony Tiffith, CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Timothy Watkins, President and CEO of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) and Dignity Health, the event’s first corporate honoree.
Proceeds from the Gala will provide funding for University scholarships and pipeline programs such as the Saturday Science Academy-II, which seeks to inspire students of color to pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering or science. STEM fields have traditionally had low percentages of students of color.
Since founding TDE in the early 2000’s, Anthony Tiffith has become one of the most influential players in music. His current roster of artists include heavyweights such as Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, SZA, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and more. A native of Watts, Mr. Tiffith has regularly given back to his community since finding success in the entertainment industry. Since 2013, TDE has partnered with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles to host the Annual Holiday Concert and Toy Drive at the neighboring Nickerson Gardens to inspire, spread joy and provide gifts for the children of the community he grew up in.
Timothy Watkins, Sr., has continued the legacy of breathing life into Watts initiated by his late father, Ted Watkins, Sr., since assuming leadership of the WLCAC in 2000. Similar to CDU, the community organization was founded in 1965 in the wake of the Watts Rebellion to improve the quality of life in the area. A lifelong resident of the city, Mr. Watkins regularly advocates for its longevity and often urges residents, “don’t move; improve.”
Dignity Health, the first corporate recipient of the Legacy Leaders Award, is being honored for their many years of supporting the CDU mission and vision. The hospital system shares similar values with CDU in emphasizing that quality healthcare should be accessible to all. The relationship between CDU and Dignity Health over recent years has aided the University in its growth and increased its capacity to recruit and educate more students who are committed to serving the communities in which they live and work.
“Events such as the Spring Gala provide opportunities for the University to pay homage to community architects who work diligently to remind us of the uniqueness, beauty and untapped potential within our community,” said CDU President/CEO Dr. David M. Carlisle. “We look forward to honoring the significant contributions of Mr. Tiffith, Mr. Watkins and our valued partner Dignity Health at the Gala.”
Sponsors:
- Diamond: L.A. Care Health Plan
- Silver:
o Cedars-Sinai
o Comerica Bank
o Kaiser Permanente
o Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital
o Office of L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas
Tickets for the Gala can be purchased at https://www.cdrewu.edu/springgala. For more information, visit http://www.cdrewu.edu/, and follow CDU on Facebook, Twitter (@cdrewu), and Instagram (@charlesrdrewu).
