Harry Belafonte to address Rowan MLK Breakfast
Harry Belafonte to address Rowan MLK Breakfast
December 4, 2009
World-renowned humanitarian, civil rights activist and entertainer Harry Belafonte will be the guest speaker at Rowan University’s 24th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast on Monday, January 18, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. in the Eynon Ballroom, located in the Mark C. Chamberlain Student Center on the University’s Glassboro campus.
The consummate entertainer, Belafonte has been a concert singer; a recording artist; a movie, Broadway, and television star; and a producer. Born in Harlem in New York City and raised there and in his mother’s native Jamaica, he won a Tony for his first Broadway appearance. Belafonte was the first artist to sell more than 1 million LPs (for the album “Calypso”) and was the first black producer in television, winning his first Emmy for “An Evening With Belafonte.” He earned Oscar nominations for the film “Carmen Jones.”
Belafonte, however, has been much more than an entertainer. He met a young Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his historic visit to New York in the early 1950s, and from that day until Dr. King’s assassination, the two were friends and he was active in civil rights activities.
President John F. Kennedy appointed him cultural advisor for the Peace Corps, and such diverse groups as the American Jewish Congress, the NAACP and the Boy Scouts of America honored him. The entertainer also contributed to ending apartheid in South Africa and assisting in the release of Nelson Mandela. Disturbed by war, famine, drought and more in Africa, Belafonte helped spearhead “We Are the World” in 1985. In 1987, Belafonte accepted the appointment as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He earned the Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize and the Kennedy Center Honors for excellence in the performing arts. He was the first recipient of the Nelson Mandela Courage Award and was honored at the White House with the 1994 National Medal of Arts.
Today, the father of four and grandfather of five continues to devote himself to civil and human rights issues, particularly in the United States and Africa.
Proceeds from Rowan’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, sponsored by the Rowan University Foundation each year to honor Dr. King’s achievements, benefit the William H. Myers Scholarship Endowment Fund, which provides financial support for high-achieving minority students.
Tickets for event, which is usually a sellout, are $50 per person and must be purchased in advance. To reserve tickets, contact Paula at (856) 256-5400. All checks should be made out to the Rowan University Foundation. Sponsors of the breakfast to date include PSEG, Sodexo, Valero Paulsboro Refinery, Atlantic City Electric and Liberty Mutual.
Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM will broadcast the breakfast live.
The consummate entertainer, Belafonte has been a concert singer; a recording artist; a movie, Broadway, and television star; and a producer. Born in Harlem in New York City and raised there and in his mother’s native Jamaica, he won a Tony for his first Broadway appearance. Belafonte was the first artist to sell more than 1 million LPs (for the album “Calypso”) and was the first black producer in television, winning his first Emmy for “An Evening With Belafonte.” He earned Oscar nominations for the film “Carmen Jones.”
Belafonte, however, has been much more than an entertainer. He met a young Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his historic visit to New York in the early 1950s, and from that day until Dr. King’s assassination, the two were friends and he was active in civil rights activities.
President John F. Kennedy appointed him cultural advisor for the Peace Corps, and such diverse groups as the American Jewish Congress, the NAACP and the Boy Scouts of America honored him. The entertainer also contributed to ending apartheid in South Africa and assisting in the release of Nelson Mandela. Disturbed by war, famine, drought and more in Africa, Belafonte helped spearhead “We Are the World” in 1985. In 1987, Belafonte accepted the appointment as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He earned the Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize and the Kennedy Center Honors for excellence in the performing arts. He was the first recipient of the Nelson Mandela Courage Award and was honored at the White House with the 1994 National Medal of Arts.
Today, the father of four and grandfather of five continues to devote himself to civil and human rights issues, particularly in the United States and Africa.
Proceeds from Rowan’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, sponsored by the Rowan University Foundation each year to honor Dr. King’s achievements, benefit the William H. Myers Scholarship Endowment Fund, which provides financial support for high-achieving minority students.
Tickets for event, which is usually a sellout, are $50 per person and must be purchased in advance. To reserve tickets, contact Paula at (856) 256-5400. All checks should be made out to the Rowan University Foundation. Sponsors of the breakfast to date include PSEG, Sodexo, Valero Paulsboro Refinery, Atlantic City Electric and Liberty Mutual.
Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM will broadcast the breakfast live.