Jim Hill (file photo)

Brotherhood Crusade officials said they are proud to announce their 2017 Pioneer of African American Achievement Award Dinner honoree, the iconic sports and broadcasting great, CBS2/KCAL9 Sports Director, Jim Hill.  The award ceremony will be held Friday, December 8,  at the Beverly Hilton. For nearly half a century, the prestigious Pioneer of African American Achievement Award Dinner has honored individuals that have made significant contributions in their respective industry and made an impact in the community through improving the quality of life for youth and families through education, advocacy and community building. 

The theme for this year’s event is “Be A Champion For Success” to highlight the impact that every donation of time, funds, mentoring and opportunity counts towards making an impact in the Brotherhood Crusade’s work to bring relief and empowerment to the community. 

This year’s highly esteemed honoree, Jim Hill, is one of the nation’s most respected sports directors, who has been a fixture on CBS 2 in Los Angeles. He appears on the station’s weekday 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts and also anchors the weekend editions of “Sports Central” – Southern California’s most comprehensive sports newscast. 

Hill, who played defensive back in the National Football League, draws upon his experience as a player, his talents as a broadcaster and relationships with top athletes and coaches to deliver his award-winning sports reports. 

In May 2006, Hill received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a ceremony that was attended by a Who’s Who list of Hall of Fame athletes, entertainers and government leaders. 

Hill was inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2010. The same organization has named Hill and his CBS2 and KCAL9 colleagues the best television sports anchor staff in the Los Angeles area numerous times. In addition, he has been honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Los Angeles Press Club, Associated Press, United Press International and many other organizations. 

He has also been recognized many times as Southern California’s best sportscaster by a number of local newspapers. In addition, USA Today named him the best sports anchor in Los Angeles. 

Hill has been actively involved with several community and fitness organizations, including the city of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Boy Scouts of America, California Governor’s Board for Physical Fitness and Sports, the President’s Council for 

Physical Fitness, Los Angeles County’s “Just Say No” anti-drug program, Watts Summer Games and Athletes for Kids. He is a member of the board of directors of the Los Angeles Urban League and a member of the Boy Scouts of America Advisory Board. On October 1, 2017, Hill became a member of the UCLA Health System board. The hospital is ranked number one in the state and number 6 in the country. 

Brotherhood Crusade President and CEO Charisse Bremond Weaver said, “The Brotherhood Crusade is so proud to salute and recognize truly one of the pillars of our community, Jim Hill. He has been a champion to our young people and leads by example in his professional and personal accomplishments. Whenever we have a Brotherhood Crusade event for the youth, many, many times, even if we don’t ask, Jim Hill is there to support. He has a heart for the community and we are honored to present him this year’s Pioneer of African American Achievement Award.” 

Hill said, “I can’t believe this tremendous honor has been afforded to me. And I want to thank the Brotherhood Crusade for giving me one of the greatest honors I’ve ever had.” 

Jeffrey Osborne (courtesy photo)

Veteran broadcasters Chris Schauble, Morning News Anchor for KTLA TV5 and Pat Prescott , Morning Show Personality for 94.7 FM THE WAVE, will serve as the event Master and Mistress of Ceremonies.  

Bremond Weaver said, “We are excited to welcome back our event emcees Chris Schauble and Pat Prescott. Each year having them as hosts makes the event that much more special, because they have a heart for our work and make the evening so much fun for the guests and honoree. We are so looking forward to having Chris and Pat return this year to host what will be a very magical evening.” 

The incomparable, multiple Grammy Award nominated R&B singer and songwriter, Jeffrey Osborne will be the featured performer for the evening.  

Bremond Weaver said, “We are thrilled to welcome Jeffrey Osborne as this year’s performer for the event. Many of us have loved his music for years and are excited to have an artist of his caliber as our featured entertainment for what is going to be a fun and exciting holiday experience.” 

Hundreds of corporate and community leaders are expected to attend the award ceremony this year. Platinum sponsors include: Comerica Bank and JPMorgan Chase.  

Diamond sponsors include: AEG, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, American Airlines, AT&T,American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Bank of America, CIT/OneWest Bank, Herbalife, Ivie, McNeill & Wyatt, A Professional Law Corporation, Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper, MUFG Union Bank N.A., Northrop Grumman, Northern Trust, SEIU Local 2015, Southwest Airlines, The Berry Gordy Family Foundation, U.S. Bank and Verizon. 

Gold sponsors include: Annenberg Foundation, AFSCME United Domestic Workers, Chris Paul Family Foundation, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Frontier Communications,Kaiser Permanente, 

Michael Klein Foundation, NBA, Nielsen, SoCalGas, Southern California Edison, State Farm Insurance, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Target, The California Endowment, The Walt Disney Company, UCLA Health and Wells Fargo. 

Silver sponsors include: Boeing, California IATSE Council, CAM Foundation, City of Hope, Commercial Bank of California, Green Dot Public Schools, Jenkins/Gales & Martinez, Inc., LeadersUp, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Patti and Peter Neuwirth, Palazzo Concessions Paramount Pictures, PCF Restaurant Management, LLC, Printco Graphics Inc., SEIU 721 SMS Transportation, The Castillo Charitable Foundation, Torrey Pines Bank and U.S. Soccer Foundation. 

Bronze sponsors include California Community Foundation, California Strategies, LLC Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, City National Bank,Concourse Ventures Inc. District Attorney Jackie Lacey, HNTB Corporation, Interior Music Corporation, Justice Unity Generosity and Service (J.U.G.S), Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey, Matthew & Yasmine Johnson Foundation and St. John’s Well Child & Family Center and RFP Insurance. 

Bremond Weaver said, “We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, donors and partners, who not only support this fundraising event, but are engaged year round and in many cases for many years partnering with Brotherhood Crusade to make a significant impact on the communities we serve. We are thankful for our longtime partners, as well as new friends who have embraced our mission.” 

The Beverly Hilton is located at 9876 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.