New York Chapter of 100 Black Men honors Janet Jackson, Hank Aaron, Johnnetta Cole, Willie Gary

Jet, Dec 6, 2004

During its recent 25th Annual Scholarship Benefit Gala, the One Hundred Black Men Inc. (OHBM) of New York honored superstar Janet Jackson, baseball legend Hank Aaron, famed attorney Willie E. Gary and Bennett College President Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole.

Some 800 guests gathered at the Hilton New York Hotel and raised more than $400,000 at the event which lauded the honorees for their outstanding accomplishments.

Jackson was presented the organization's Artistic Achievement Award saluting "a career that has gone from success to greater success," said OHBM New York President Paul T. Williams, Jr. of the honoree. In lauding Hank Aaron's selection for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Williams cited him as baseball's career homerun champ as well as his achievements as a businessman and philanthropist "who exemplifies the ideals of One Hundred Black Men Inc."

Dr. Cole, who previously served as the first Black female president of Spelman College, was presented the Distinguished Service Award for her "long and distinguished career as an educator and humanitarian.

Upon receiving the Leadership Award, Gary was cited for his work as an attorney who "has engineered some of the largest jury awards and settlements in U.S. history" and as chairman and CEO of the Major Broadcasting Cable Network (MBC), the nation's only Black-owned 24-hour cable channel.

MSNBC anchor Lester Holt and CBS 2 newscaster Short Gables served as co-hosts for the event.

Celebrating its 41st anniversary, One Hundred Black Men of Americ, Inc. is a not-for-profit international membership organization of some 10,000 Black men who share the goal of improving the quality of life for Blacks and other minorities. OHBM New York is the organization's founding chapter.