The College of Charleston Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture will present the first-ever Septima P. Clark award for Excellence in Black Education to on Sept. 26, 2015. The award will be presented to Joyner during a fundraising reception honoring philanthropists and celebrating the tradition of African-American scholastic excellence. The fundraiser is being held in conjunction with commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Avery Normal Institute and the 30th anniversary of the Avery Research Center.
Tom Joyner
The fundraiser will take place at the Avery Center beginning at 7 p.m.
Joyner is the host of the national syndicated radio program “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” and is broadcast in over 100 cities in the United States. He is also the founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation, and BlackAmericaWeb.com.
Joyner, known as “The Hardest Working Man in Radio,” has distinguished himself as one of the most recognized and revered media personalities in the country. He has won virtually every top radio award, including the prestigious Marconi Award, and has been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.
He and members of his crew have prompted major companies to stop discriminating against African Americans and Hispanics in advertising and are in the trenches in raising health awareness among African Americans with their annual “Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day.”
His Tom Joyner Foundation was started in 1998 for the sake of African American students in need at Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the nation. The foundation has raised more than $55 million.
The Septima P. Clark Award is named for the former civil rights activist. Clark, a Charleston native, developed the literacy and citizenship workshops that played an important role in the drive for voting rights and civil rights for African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement.
This fundraiser is possible due to grants from Sun Trust Bank, Google, Denny’s and The Avery Institute for Afro-American History and Culture.
“We are honored to join the College of Charleston Avery Center as they recognize our long-time partner, and friend, Tom Joyner, with this deserving recognition for his outstanding contributions and dedication to the community,” said John Dillon, chief marketing officer for Denny’s.”
View a digital scrapbook on the Lowcountry Digital Library celebrating the life and achievements of Septima P. Clark.
About Avery
The Avery Research is located on the site of the former Avery Normal Institute. It was a hub for Charleston’s African-American community from 1865–1954 that trained its students for professional careers and leadership roles. In 1985, the alumni of the Avery Normal Institute, spearheaded by the Honorable Lucille Whipper, formed the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. It joined with the College of Charleston to establish the Avery Research Center to preserve the legacy of the Avery Normal Institute and educate the community on the history and culture of African Americans in Charleston, the South Carolina Lowcountry, and South Carolina at large. The Avery Research Center currently holds nearly 4000 primary- and secondary-source materials that document the history, traditions, legacies, and influence of African Americans and their place in the American narrative.
About the Tom Joyner Foundation:
The Tom Joyner Foundation was founded in 1998 as the brainchild of nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner. The mission of the Foundation is to support historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with scholarships, endowments and capacity-building enhancements. The Foundation has provided necessary support to every HBCU in its 14-year history to help sustain and preserve the legacies of these valuable institutions. Through fundraising and donor development initiatives, $65 million has been raised to support more than 29,000 students attending HBCUs. Additionally, the Foundation has recommended internships, offered matching grant support, and career development to deserving students. You can follow us on Facebookand Twitter.
