Patti LaBelle, Ingrid Saunders Jones among honorees at Urban League's 48th Equal Opportunity Day Awards

Songstress Patti LaBelle and Coca-Cola Company Senior Vice President Ingrid Saunders Jones were among honorees at the National Urban League's (NUL) recent 48th Annual Equal Opportunity Day (EOD) Awards Dinner at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

The EOD Awards are the National Urban League's "highest recognition of individuals, organizations and corporations," says National Urban League President Marc Morial.

Ms. LaBelle was awarded the Community Service Award for her contributions to the community through her work on many organizations. As a spokesman for the National Medical Assn., she leads a campaign against diabetes and cancer. She also serves on the Boards of the National Alzheimer's Association and the National Cancer Institute.

Ms. Jones was presented the Leadership Award for the deep conviction to equal opportunity she has shown as Cote-Cola Co. senior vice president of corporate external affairs and chair of the Coca-Cola Foundation which oversees the company's philanthropic commitment to education.

In addition, EOD Awards were presented to Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Jonathan Linen, vice chairman, American Express Co.

Andrew C. Taylor, chairman and CEO of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, accepted his company's Corporate Leadership Award which cited corporate social responsibility and its "long-standing commitment to building better communities."

Linen received the Special Recognition Award for his "strong leadership" and "selfless commitment" to the Urban League, He served as chairman of the NUL Board of Trustees from 1996-2000.

Verizon Communications and the U.S. Labor Department were inducted into the NUL Five-Million-Dollar Hall of Fame and Citigroup, Inc., and SBC Communications were inducted into the NUL Million Dollar Hall of Fame. The designations recognize donors who have contributed over $5 million and $1 million respectively to support the NUL's work.

Some 1,000 patrons attended the dinner, which raised a record $1.5 million. Marge Magnet, chairman and CEO Global Consumer Group, Citigroup Inc., served as national dinner chair. Actress S. Epatha Merkerson, co-star of the TV series "Law & Order," was emcee for the evening and famed vocalist Wintley A. Phipps was featured entertainment.