ABC celebrated, honors Black history-makers
The New York Amsterdam News
February 14-February 20, 2002
By J. ZAMGBA BROWNE
Amsterdam News Staff
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H. Carl McCall and Dick Gregory
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Legendary comedian Dick Gregory and state Comptroller H. Carl McCall were two
individuals honored last Wednesday by the Associated Black Charities (ABC) at
its annual Black History Makers Awards gala held at the Marriott Hotel.
Ed Bradley, veteran news-man and co-host of CBS TV's popular program "60
Minutes," served as master of ceremonies. The annual gala recognizes the
achievements of outstanding African-Americans.
Other highlights of the evening were a special video presentation of poet Maya
Angelou reciting her work "Still I Rise" and a message brought by comedian-actor
Bill Cosby.
The award to Gregory was presented by Ed Bradley, while Harlem businessman
Percy E. Sutton made the presentation to McCall, a gubernatorial candidate. In
his acceptance remarks,
McCall praised ABC and under-scored that whether it's through after-school
programs, family counseling or drug and alcohol education and treatment, the agency
is always on the case.
He noted that attention is currently being taken away from the "insidious
terrors of poverty and hopelessness" in Black communities across New York
City.
"We need to use our political power to make govern-ment listen and respond,
and we need a campaign of tenacious and dedicated community support for people
in need," the comptroller declared.
ABC's chief goal is to promote the delivery of quality health and human services
to New York's African-American com-munity. Established 20 years ago, ABC is a
federation of 26 community-based health and human service agencies, which serve
nearly 200,000 clients yearly.
Rayton Gerald, who chairs ABC's board of directors, told the guests that reduced
federal and state government funding in the areas of health services has significantly
altered longstanding systems offering a safety net for many African-Americans
whom ABC helps most.
"Economic, public policy and societal forces are combining to challenge
our collective thinking to expand traditional philanthropic notions of what it
takes to invest in our communities and in systems like public education and health
care that are relied upon by all Americans, but especially by African-Americans,"
he declared.
Gerald challenged the guests to "advocate for equitable and sustainable
funding necessary to ensure educational improvement in our public school systems
in order to prepare our children to participate more fully in the evolving opportunities
of our technology-driven economy."
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