Don Lemon Serving As “A Mind Is…” Hamptons Summer Benefit Master Of Ceremonies

UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax, along with co-chairs events, Jean Shafiroff and Gregory Lowe II, are presenting the 2018 “A Mind Is…” Hamptons Summer Benefit. The two-part fundraiser will commence with a VIP reception, awards presentation and dinner at a private residence in East Hampton on Saturday, August 18. The following day, a Sunday Brunch will be held at Bay Kitchen Bar in East Hampton.

CNN Tonight with Don Lemon anchor Don Lemon will serve as Master of Ceremonies, while Alex Donner and his orchestra will provide the entertainment. Essence co-founder Edward Lewis and Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Ph.D., Director of the National Museum of African Art at Smithsonian Institution, will be honored with the Keeper of the Flame award.

“As an entrepreneur, I have striven to run a business that does good work in the community, as well as, achieves a viable bottom line,” Lewis noted.

Proceeds will support UNCF’s educational initiatives, which play a vital part in ensuring that deserving low-income students have access to the resources that will aid them in the pursuit of a higher education and support them once they do get to college. A portion of funds raised during “A Mind Is…” Hamptons Summer Benefit will also be allocated towards scholarships for underrepresented students from the East End that reside from Riverhead to Montauk.

“Early on, my mother instilled in me the importance of doing the right thing by being a good man-a man of integrity, honor, discipline and responsibility. She also felt very strongly that getting an education should be my priority, did all in her power to make that possible for me and also later encouraged me to be supportive of community organizations that stressed education,” Lewis explained. “UNCF was an organization she passionately believed in and financially supported – even on the limited income of a divorced woman working as a domestic. Both privately and as co-founder and publisher of Essence, I made certain that the company also supported the mission of UNCF.”

“A Mind Is…” Hamptons Summer Benefit will also feature a silent auction – with an impressive array of items – such as exotic vacations, tickets to sporting events, and luxury brands.

“It is imperative that each of us ensures that every child has access to educational opportunities,” Lewis added. “I am elated to be recognized as a 2018 UNCF honoree; not only because its mission is to help young people whose backgrounds so closely resemble my own in the Bronx, but also, because my mother would be so proud.”

The Saturday VIP Reception will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony and dinner will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. The Sunday Brunch will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tickets to the Brunch start at $150, while tickets to the soiree start at $350.

UNCF’s mission is to “build a robust and nationally-recognized pipeline of under-represented students who, because of UNCF support, become highly-qualified college graduates and to ensure that our network of member institutions is a respected model of best practice in moving students to and through college.”

For more information, visit uncf.org.