A Night to Remember, Recipients shine at QBG Gala
Posted on 08. Aug, 2010 by admin in Community Focus
Expressing their gratitude, Christina Bass (Christian Fenger High School), Kiara Caridine, (Homewood Flossmoor High School) and Glenn Fulton, (Christian Fenger High School) became the latest high school graduates to receive scholarships from the Quentis Bernard Garth Foundation at its Annual Fundraiser and Dinner held last Saturday at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. Since its inception, QBG has awarded over 1.5 million in scholarships to deserving Black youth in the Chicagoland area. In a poem entitled, “I Believe in Me,” the new inductees expressed their unified appreciation to the Foundation through the spoken word. “I can be anything I choose to be,” recited Bass in the poem while Fulton added, “…if you believe in me, I can use my mind to make this world a better place.” The event, topped off by a soulful and stirring performance featuring Chicago’s very own, The ChiLites, was hosted by Herb Kent’s V-103.
The audience swayed to the sound of “dusties” including, “Have You Seen Her,” and “Oh Girl” and after an outstanding performance by the Chi-Lites, disc jockey for the evening Al Greer of AG Entertainment, brought the people to their feet on the dance floor in a rousing performance of the “Electric Slide.” During the gala, several past scholarship recipients were able to express their appreciation, notably Selena King, a 2000 graduate of Simeon Career Academy who went on to attend Bradley University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Communications Degree as well as a Public Relations Degree. King is alsoa graduate of the University of Illinois in Springfield where she received aMasters in Public Administration. Because of the QBG Scholarship, “I have dedicated my career to helping people,” King said.
Another past recipient, Markeia Jones, a 2008 inductee who is working her way through college and who was unable to attend, said in a written message, “As a result of the scholarship I have received from the QBG Foundation/Com-Ed, I have been able to enjoy the benefits of an outstanding education—-one that I am sure will prepare me for a successful future asI work to attain my degree in English at Hampton University in Virginia.
Although I am unable to join you tonight… I am there in spirit and wish all the best for QBG and the newly inducted scholarship recipients!” As a result of the donation from Com-Ed, Jones’ scholarship was renewed for the 2010-2011 school year in the amount of $10,000. Com-Ed has been a long-time supporter of the QBG Foundation. The Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group has agreed to identify five students for IIT’s STEM Educational and Scholarship Initiative Program. The program is for students who are interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as the fields of business, architecture and psychology. Household income must be between zero and $45,000 to be eligible for the scholarship. Students within the city of Chicago could receive full financial support including tuition which is $31,363; a $1,000 allowance for books and $1,000 allowance for fees along with a $3,The scholarship is also available to Chicago residents and/or Chicago secondary school graduates only. CPS graduates will be designated as Collens Scholars, according to IIT’s website.
Students are required to submit the FAFSA every year. A resident who is ineligible to submit a FAFSA should contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional instructions. Institutional support is provided after all applicable federal and state grants and loans are applied to a student’s financial aid package. The STEM+ Scholarship is available to freshmen pursuing their first undergraduate degree.
Also at the event, a tribute by QBG Board Members to Leroy Brown, a board member who passed away was held as members expressed their gratitude for his past contributions. Additionally, several public officials and private companies were recognized for their contributions to the community and were presented with awards including, ComEd and Crown Commercial Real Estate and Development which received the “Corporation Investing in Education Award.”
State Representative Marlow Colvin (33rd) was presented with the “Governmental Advocate to Close Digital Divide for Urban Youth Award,” and the “Visionary Leadership Award,” was presented to Alderman Carrie M. Austin (34th). Alderman Michelle Harris (8th) was also recognized for creating economic opportunities for the youth and recognition went out to Alderman Freddrenna Lyle (6th) for creating and promoting excellent youth initiatives in the community.
In the beginning of the program, Lisette Livingston, managing editor at the Citizen Newspaper and QBG volunteer committee member kicked off the event with a special message about the gift of giving. She reminded the audience about the fourth annual National Minority Donor Awareness Day recognized on August 1 and celebrated a day right after the gala which was held on July 31st.
National Minority Donor Awareness Day recognizes why it is important for people from various racial backgrounds to become organ donors, Livingston said. “In the Black community …minorities account for approximately 54 percent of the people on the national organ transplant list,” she added, “so we wanted to use this day as an opportunity to raise awareness about this important issue,” she said in an interview.
Telling a poignant story that evening of her own where in 1999 she made the decision to allow her now deceased husband’s organs to be used to save someone else’s life, she also focused on Citizen CEO William Garth, Sr., Chairman of the QBG Foundation who is currently on the kidney transplant list.
“With so much Mr. Garth has done to help others,” she added, “We just wanted to send the message out of the need for people to become organ donors and that when thinking about giving, there is no greater gift than the gift of life itself,” she stated. Wearing a green ribbon symbolic of organ donation which was also handed out at the event for others to wear, she added, “without life — no dream is realized, no hope fulfilled, no child is educated. We want people like Mr. Garth who have done so much for the community to be around for as long as possible and by becoming an organ donor, that can all be accomplished,” she said.
If you are interested in becoming one of the five students the Citizen Newspaper is trying to help IIT identify for its STEM Program Initiative, call 773-783-1251 or Fax 773-783-1301. You can also write to wgarth34@yahoo.com
