Mayor Mike Rawlings serves as event host; chaired by Senator Royce West; Entertainment Tonight’s Nischelle Turner serves as mistress of ceremonies

(Black PR Wire) DALLAS— UNCF (United Negro College Fund) will host the Mayor’s Masked Ball on February 24 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. More than 800 guests will attend the signature fundraising event hosted by Mayor Mike Rawlings and chaired by Texas State Senator Royce West, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Plano's Mayor Harry LaRosiliere; Desoto's Mayor Curtistene McCowan; McKinney's Mayor George Fuller; Farmer's Branch Mayor Robert Dye, and many area business, civic and education leaders. 

Benefiting historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), UNCF aims to change the narrative of HBCUs across the nation by equipping minority students with the resources necessary to transition into college and ultimately the workforce.

“Once again, I am pleased to host the UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball. Last year, we raised more than $800,000. This is the biggest fundraising event in Dallas that supports education for minority students,” said Rawlings. “Many sponsors have invested in the work of UNCF to ensure that more students from Dallas can receive a college education at a historically black college or university, and for this, I am very grateful. Investing in the college education of our young people will impact Dallas for many generations.”  

With the help of the North Texas community, more than half a million dollars was awarded last year in scholarships and programs for our member institutions. And now, with the release of UNCF’s new report, HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, we know graduates from these HBCUs contributed $1.3 billion to the total economic impact and over 11,490 in total employment impact to the state of Texas.    

“Events such as the Dallas UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball, stress the importance of HBCUs,” said Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF. “HBCUs not only provide a college education for 300,000 students every year, but they are a powerful economic engine: locally, through the jobs they create and the expenditures they make in the cities where they are located, and nationally, through the students they educate and prepare for an information-age workforce.”  

For their unwavering commitment to education and supporting the work of UNCF, Cong. Eddie Bernice Johnson and Diane and Mike Gruber will receive the UNCF Masked award.  

The event is made possible with the help of presenting sponsor, The Men and Women of Hunt Consolidated, Inc. along with premiere sponsors, AT&T, Celanese Foundation, Gruber Hail Johansen Shank LLP and Diane and Mike Gruber; marquis sponsors, Alpha Epsilon Boule, Pi Phi Sigma Fraternity, American Airlines, BNSF Railway, H-E-B, JCPenney, Tenet Healthcare and Toyota Motor North America, and many other sponsors.  

“We are thrilled about the incredible support of our sponsors and table hosts, said Kristie Patton Foster, area development director, UNCF.” “We are extremely grateful to Mayor Rawlings and Senator West for lending their time and resources to ensure that more Dallas area students can realize their dream of a college education.”  

 UNCF’s Mayor’s Masked Ball kicks off with a reception and silent auction at 6 p.m., dinner and program at 7 p.m. and concludes with the R&B band, Taylor Pace Orchestra. Entertainment Tonight’s correspondent, Nischelle Turner is the celebrity host.  

For more information or to purchase a ticket to the Ball, which are $300 each, please visit www.UNCF.org/dallasmmb or contact Kristie Patton Foster at kristie.foster@uncf.org or 972.234.1007.   

Unable to attend, but want to make a difference in a student’s life? Text UNCFDAL to 50555

To stay connected to UNCF throughout the year, please visit UNCF.org/Dallas.

Follow this event @uncf #MMBDALLAS  

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About UNCF 

UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 17 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” ® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNCF.