Black men’s organization honors five civic leaders
Photo By Terry
Gilliam
Honored distinguished leaders
are (Left) Eddie Harrell Jr., president and chief executive officer of the
Columbus Urban League; Jerry Saunders, president and chief executive officer
of the Africentric Personal Development Shop Inc., public relations
consultant Niel Jurist, accepted honors on behalf of Yvette McGee Brown,
president of the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide
Children’s Hospital; Clarence D. Lumpkin, a community activist in the Linden
area and Allen Huff, president and chief executive officer of the
Neighborhood House Inc.
By Felix Hoover
For YourNewsColumbus.com
Columbus--Teaching youths about respect, justice and integrity is the hallmark of a local mentoring group that recently honored five distinguished community leaders who exhibit those traits.
The tribute came at the 6th Annual Red Hot Gala of 100 Black Men of Central Ohio Inc., which raises money for the organization’s scholarship fund.
This year’s honorees are: Yvette McGee Brown, president of the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Clarence D. Lumpkin, a community activist in the Linden area; Eddie Harrell Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Columbus Urban League; Allen Huff, president and chief executive officer of the Neighborhood House Inc.; and Jerry Saunders, president and chief executive officer of the Africentric Personal Development Shop Inc.
“Their commitment to serving the people of our great city is not only noteworthy, but an example of the steps many of us should strive to follow,” chapter President Anthony B. Redic said.
McGee Brown could not attend the event, so one of the people she mentored, public relations consultant Niel Jurist, accepted honors on her behalf.
Mentorship is the chapter’s core effort, built on the notion that children will become what they see.
Mentors spend lunch time weekly with students at three local schools.
The central Ohio chapter is one of more than 100 that support communities in the United States, the Caribbean and England. Besides mentoring, they promote education, health and wellness and economic development.