Media legend Pat Harvey will be honored Brotherhood Crusade at its 55th Annual Bremond/Bakewell Pioneer of African American Achievement Award Dinner. The black-tie gala takes place on Friday, Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m., at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., in Beverly Hills.
Civic leaders, elected officials and corporate executives are expected to attend the event, which will feature entertainment by renowned singer/songwriter Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, as well as salute Harvey’s impressive 34-year career in broadcast journalism and patronage to individuals and groups throughout the city.
“Pat Harvey is a beloved icon in the Black community and a longtime supporter of our organization. We look forward to saluting her distinguished career in the media and recognizing her philanthropic contributions in South L.A.,” said Charisse Bremond-Weaver, president and CEO of the Brotherhood Crusade.
Upon learning about the honor, Harvey responded, “The Bremond/Bakewell Pioneer of African American Achievement award means everything to me, because it’s from my community and validates the principles I hold dear and tried to uphold throughout my career.”
A native of Michigan, Harvey joined KCAL-TV in 1989 after stints as an anchor on CNN Headline News and at Chicago Superstation WGN. Since coming to Los Angeles, she’s covered a range of impactful stories that thrust her into the public’s eye.
For example, in 1990, she did a series on the end of civil war in El Salvador and interviewed a child who lost both legs after stepping on a mine. Harvey’s report persuaded Loma Linda Hospital to fly the girl to L.A. to receive free prosthetics.
She also garnered accolades for her 2017 report examining L.A. race relations, which occurred after an alt-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia resulted in one death and injuries to many people. Harvey moderated a televised discussion featuring the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sentinel executive publisher Danny Bakewell, Sr., Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the late LAUSD superintendent, Michelle King.
Recalling the broadcast, Harvey said, “I was very excited that we were able to do that and that CBS decided to take what had happened and really open up about it and hear from people who have really made a difference give their different viewpoints about what happened there in Charlottesville and what we can do in society to come together. I was very happy about that. That really put it out front because that particular incident affected everyone,” she said.
In recognition of her work, Harvey has received the Genii Award for excellence in TV broadcasting from American Women in Radio and Television – Southern California chapter, the Joseph M. Quinn Lifetime Achievement Award from the L.A. Press Club, “Best News Anchor” from the Associated Press and the Hollywood Women’s Press Club for ethics in journalism. Also, she is the recipient of multiple Emmy and Golden Mike Awards as well as a member of the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.
In the area of community service, Harvey volunteers with NABJ-L.A. chapter, Special Needs Network, and MLK Community Hospital. She also donates time to the Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways sponsored by Sweet Alice Harris and Parents of Watts.
The Good News Foundation is another nonprofit that is dear to Harvey. The group, which is comprised of four other newswomen in Los Angeles, awards scholarships to future broadcast journalists and raises funds to help various charities. During Harvey’s tenure as co-chair, the nonprofit built a library for the Downtown Women’s Center, a computer lab for School on Wheels and a playground in South L.A.
Tickets are still available for the 55th Annual Bremond/Bakewell Pioneer of African American Achievement Award Dinner. To learn more, visit brotherhoodcrusade.org.
