Los Angeles Urban League is proud to honor Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Entertainment Studios with the 2019 Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award. The theme of this year’s dinner is “Empowering Excellence.” The dinner will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom of the Hollywood and Highland Center, 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA. The red carpet begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m., and the dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m.
In addition to the Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award, Los Angeles Urban League has created a new award in honor of their legendary leader, the late, great John W. Mack, president and CEO of Los Angeles Urban League from 1969 – 2005. The inaugural John Mack Legacy Award will be presented to his dear friend and colleague, Fred Ali, president and CEO of Weingart Foundation. The league will also honor Jeffery T.D. Wallace, president and CEO of LeadersUp, with the Dr. Winston C. Doby Community Coalition Award.
The evening’s keynote address will be delivered by Lonnie Bunch, III, founding director, National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Smithsonian Institution.
“I am truly honored to be receiving The Urban League’s Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award,” said Allen. “The Los Angeles Urban League’s ceaseless commitment to civil rights and the economic empowerment of all Americans is important work, and I take great satisfaction in supporting the efforts of this exceptional organization.”
“We are incredibly grateful to this year’s honorees and extremely proud to have Byron Allen accept this year’s Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award,” said Michael Lawson, president and CEO of Los Angeles Urban League. “Byron Allen exemplifies excellence and this award is just a small token recognizing his success as well as our appreciation for his generous support of our mission and our communities.”
This year marks the 46th year of the Whitney M. Young, Jr., Awards Dinner, which raises funds for Los Angeles Urban League and its community outreach programs. Allen joins an exclusive list of notable prior recipients of the Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award. The list includes sports legends like John Wooden and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, as well as entertainers such as Denzel Washington, Natalie Cole, Sidney Poitier, and Stevie Wonder. Past honorees also include business and community leaders from organizations such as Toyota, Disney, NBC Universal, and West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Los Angeles Police Department, and Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Last year’s honoree was CNN’s Van Jones highlighting his work in furthering civil rights and criminal justice reform.
