Latest news with #UrbanLeague
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Urban League of Rochester celebrates 800 students at 46th annual Black Scholar Award ceremony
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Urban League of Rochester celebrated the academic achievements of 800 students at its 46th annual Black Scholars Award ceremony. The event took place at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Monday. The Urban League of Rochester has provided students with college and career readiness resources for over four decades through the Black Scholars program. The organization also provides financial assistance for low-income college students through an endowment fund. The theme for this year's ceremony was 'DREAM: The Blueprint to Purpose'. The event included remarks from community leaders, presentations, and a keynote address given by Rochester native and recording artist Danielle Ponder. Rochester Prep celebrates college acceptances, $3.2M in scholarships The celebration brought together families, peers, and community members for a night to recognize students who maintained an 83 average and higher throughout all four years of high school. 'The event is not just a ceremony, it's a celebration of legacy, perseverance, and the promise of a brighter future,' Senior Vice President of Programs, Taureen Uthman, said. Community partners also provided select students with scholarships to support their next steps. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Urban League hosts its second large-scale relief event for St. Louis tornado victims
ST. LOUIS – More than two weeks after a deadly tornado swept across parts of St. Louis city and County, relief and recovery efforts continue. Critical supplies are still in high demand so individuals can begin to return to normal life. The road to recovery with be long, but with help from the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, it can be less stressful. On Saturday, the Urban League held its second of four planned large-scale distribution events, handing out relief supplies to families affected by the May 16 tornado. They provided more than 3,000 packages of food, toiletries, and other essential items. The Urban League headquarters will continue to accept donations Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They need food items and general supplies, along with infant and hygiene products. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tornado relief: Tents offer care packages for kids in need
ST. LOUIS – In the aftermath of the May 16 tornado, the north St. Louis community has come together to support those affected, with neighbors helping neighbors in a remarkable display of solidarity. One of the many initiatives includes pop-up tents distributing care packages to children impacted by the storm. These efforts are part of a larger community response to provide relief and hope to those in need. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now On Friday, at the corner of Marcus and Natural Bridge Avenues in North St. Louis, children were seen smiling as they received care packages, a testament to the community's resilience and generosity. The Urban League of Metro St. Louis is organizing another large distribution event to further aid the community. This event will take place at their headquarters on North Kingshighway from noon to 3 p.m. tomorrow. Volunteers are encouraged to arrive by 10 a.m. to assist with the setup. The event will offer food, toiletries and other essential items through a drive-through service to ensure safety and convenience. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Journals
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis marks record fundraising and historic milestones at 107th Annual Dinner
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis capped off a historic year with its 107th Annual Dinner Meeting, held Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel. The sold-out event brought together business leaders, public officials and community advocates for an evening that celebrated leadership, community impact and a record-breaking fundraising total that surpassed all previous Urban League dinner events. The occasion reflected on a pivotal year of growth, honored outstanding partners and inspired continued investment in the Urban League's mission to empower communities and change lives. expand Celebrating local champions Two major awards highlighted the evening's focus on leadership and legacy. Anthony 'Tony' Thompson, founder and CEO of Kwame Building Group, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact in both business and philanthropy. Thompson built one of the largest African American-owned construction management firms in the country and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through his Kwame Foundation to support scholarships and youth development. His work has left a lasting imprint on the city's civic and economic landscape. The Corporate Citizen of the Year Award went to Emerson, led by president and CEO Lal Karsanbhai. The company has demonstrated strong corporate responsibility, investing in equity, education and housing initiatives. Its partnership with the Urban League has strengthened efforts to close opportunity gaps and expand services across St. Louis. expand Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis A year of breakthroughs The 107th Annual Dinner also served as a platform to highlight 2024, a year described by Urban League leadership as the most transformative in its 107-year history. The Urban League scaled up major programs and secured unprecedented investments that expanded its capacity to serve. Public safety initiatives like Clean Up Build Up, Grill to Glory and Urban Opioid Triage mobilized churches, residents and law enforcement to build trust and reduce violence. Meanwhile, the Reroute program supported individuals in the justice system with mentorship and employment resources. Workforce development remained central. Save Our Sons and Save Our Sisters trained hundreds of men and women for high-demand careers, while the Energy Sector Training Initiative created job pathways in partnership with local utilities. Additional programs in digital literacy, small business development and Boeing Bootcamps broadened access to opportunity. A major milestone came when the Centene Corporation donated a $25 million building marking the largest gift in the 115-year history of the National Urban League. Now called the Centene Connected Community, the North County site houses the Urban League's Head Start division and serves as a shared space for nonprofits and entrepreneurs. The Urban League also broke ground on the Urban League Plaza, a mixed-use campus in the Ferguson-Dellwood corridor designed as a hub for advancement in education, economic opportunity and health. expand A record fundraising night In addition to celebrating these milestones, the event shattered past fundraising records. It drew strong support from corporate sponsors, philanthropic leaders and individual donors all dedicated to sustaining the Urban League's vital work. Michael P. McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, emphasized collective effort in his remarks. 'The Urban League was born out of crisis in 1917, and here we are, 107 years later, still rising to meet every challenge,' McMillan said. 'This work is about more than programs — it's about people. This record-breaking night proves that when the community believes in the mission, we can do extraordinary things together.' The evening also included program testimonials, a multimedia recap of 2024 and a reminder that the work ahead remains urgent. Looking ahead With more than 60 programs and a strong network of partners, the Urban League is set to expand its impact in 2025. As it enters its 108th year, the focus remains on innovation, inclusion and investment in underserved communities. Sustaining and growing strategic partnerships is essential to that vision. By working with corporate, grassroots and regional collaborators, the Urban League continues to deliver meaningful, lasting solutions. The 107th Annual Dinner was more than a celebration — it was a powerful reminder of what's possible when equity and leadership unite. With continued support, the Urban League is ready to build on this momentum and drive even greater progress ahead. The Urban League extends its deepest gratitude to the generous sponsors who made the evening possible. Chairman Sponsors included World Wide Technology, Inc.; the Centene Charitable Foundation; Ameren; Emerson; and the Steward Family Foundation. President Sponsors were Dowd Bennett LLP, the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, the William F. Siedhoff Foundation, and Edward Jones. Advocate Sponsors included BJC HealthCare, Clayco, Jeff & Nancy Jensen, and JuVee and Nike. Thanks to their unwavering support, the Urban League's mission remains not only alive but thriving. The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. provides a roadmap to equality for African Americans and others through partnerships with corporations, community leaders and governmental and civic institutions. Since its founding, the Urban League has continuously worked to diffuse racial tensions and improve living conditions for African Americans in St. Louis. The St. Louis Urban League is the largest in the nation, the first to earn a five-star rating, and one of only two providing services in both Illinois and Missouri. It serves over 200,000 individuals annually through 25 facilities and 65 different programs.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Urban League's Grill to Glory returns to unite community amid tornado recovery
ST. LOUIS – The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is launching its 'Grill to Glory' initiative Saturday, aiming to unite neighborhoods in the wake of a massive tornado that caused significant damage in north St. Louis nearly two weeks ago. The Grill to Glory initiative, which involves over 320 neighborhood churches, seeks to bring communities together through shared grilling events. The program has a history of reducing crime and bringing neighborhoods together, which Urban League officials emphasize as communities work to recover from the tornado's impact. Florissant home explosion: 1 person injured Church leaders will gather at the Urban League headquarters to collect grills and other supplies needed for the events. These gatherings will take place several Saturdays over the summer, beginning this weekend. Meanwhile, the Missouri National Guard is preparing four locations where people can drop off debris from the tornado, according to the Post-Dispatch. The sites could open as soon as Thursday. The Missouri National Guard plans for the debris sites to be available for two weeks, although that timeframe could be extended. The debris sites can be found at the following locations: Marshall Branch School: 4322 Aldine Avenue Turner Middle School: 2573 Billups Avenue DeAndreis/Bunche School: 4257 Clarence Avenue Farragut Elementary: 4025 Sullivan Avenue All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
