Oprah Winfrey was among the black glitterati who came out in full force last night to celebrate Susan L. Taylor's National CARES Mentoring Movement (NCMM) at New York City's ESPACE.
The Queen of All Media, who originally made a $500,000 commitment to the cause -the largest single donation to date, was so moved by the spirit of the evening that she doubled her donation-a total of $1 million-to undergird the mission.
Taylor, the former front-woman of best-selling black woman's magazine 'Essence,' was elated with the grand contribution. "What a blessing Oprah's generosity is to the healing of so many young lives," she said. "Her extraordinary gift of love took my breath away." Renowned as the visionary and heart behind one of the most respected African-American brands in the world, Taylor has shifted her focus to community service with the newly established organization – her calling is to help secure a generation of black children through the work of NCMM.
Ruby Dee, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Common, Michael Eric Dyson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Roland S. Martin, Maurice DuBois, Lola Ogunnaike, Stephanie Jordan, Kephra Burns, Kevin Powell, Dr. Adelaide Sanford, Terrie M. Williams, and Rev. Al Sharpton, were among the more than 300 guests who turned out for the event, which was co-hosted by comedian/actress Phyllis Yvonne Stickney. Gospel music superstars Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin performed.
"With this kind of continued support, we will end the cycles of academic and social disengagement that are debilitating our communities and country," Taylor, said. "Mentoring is the answer. It is the best and most meaningful gift we can give this holiday season."
Originally founded by Taylor as "Essence Cares" in 2006 in response to Hurricane Katrina, the organization is a mentor-recruitment movement that works to fill the pipeline of youth-supporting organizations throughout the country with mentors. Its mission is to save a generation by putting a caring adult in the life of every at-risk child and those who have already fallen into peril.
National CARES Circles operate in more than 50 cities around the country such as: Anchorage, Annapolis, Austin, Augusta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Broward County (FL), Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Montgomery, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Raleigh, Sacramento, Seattle, Washington, DC and others.
Comments: (86)
Add a comment
By: graduation gifts on 12/03/2008 4:14PM
Oprah Winfrey dress is excellent.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Alice on 12/03/2008 10:24PM
I love Oprah so much. She inspired me to support Obama in the Democratic primary. She has a heart of gold & a wonderful personality.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Alice on 12/03/2008 10:26PM
I love Oprah. She inspired me to support Obama. She has a heart of gold and a wonderful personality.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: kim d. curtis on 12/04/2008 7:33PM
oprah should be the first women president of thew usa.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Pineal Gland on 12/05/2008 9:25AM
Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Collective work is the best. Especially when its for a great reason and cause. Our youths deserve no less. Peace and love everyone.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: SEEDOFABRAHAM on 12/05/2008 10:24AM
You gotta be kidding. Orpah, I mean Oprah gives 1 million from a billion dollar chest, and were anointing her as the saviour of our children? The only thing that will save our children is when black men return back to being the Kings of our families, communities and nation and that we all as a collective must turn from our wicked and perverse ways, seek His face, repent, humble ourselves and only then will Christ Jesus heal our land! Anything other than that is deception. You cant just throw money at debauchery. Money isn't going to change black on black crime, absent fathers, crack addiction, homosexuality including the "down low" phenom, etc, etc.
What will change is our hearts, from accepting within ourselves that we need to be born again under the righteous authority of Jesus the Christ. Oprah has denounced God's Word and has moved into the inclusion of all religions as one. She believes that there are many roads that leads to God. While Christianity in its pure form, speaks that the only way to get to heaven is through Jesus, not apart from Him.
Oprah is in apostate and she needs to repent! Tired of folx continuing to compromise and water down the Word of God to appease man. When is Oprah and Obama going to be outraged of all the children, especially black children who are aborted everyday? Over 13 million black babies were slaughtered in the mothers sacred womb by paid hit men. Now that would be real change, don't you think?
Puhleeze, God is not mocked. Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: EDITH C. BUSH on 12/05/2008 10:26AM
WHERE MAY WE GET INFO ABOUT NATIONAL CARES? W. PALM BEACH ,FL NEEDS THE PROGRAM.
EDITH C. BUSH
1444-8 TH ST
W. PALM BEACH, FL. 33401
561-832-4682 - PHONE
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: gee gee on 12/05/2008 11:10AM
yes ,where may i get infomation for this program for my boys i have 5 kids 4 boys.i,m in orlando fla.send to my email address.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: mi on 12/05/2008 12:01PM
SEEDOFABRAHAM
You nothing but a hater your just mad because you cant afford to give 1 cent to anyone or anything she is wonderful and she is helping childern who dont have anyone rather its a father, mother or whatever in their life grow up and stop using God's name in vain this woman has done more for people period then any other celb and God will keep blessing her to share her money in a postive way,your a hater
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Elizabeth Garraway on 12/05/2008 1:50PM
"Hats off to who can do whatever they can do."
I truly will not be in agreement that she should be a President but she does make a real difference to some people. It's like the Bible, some people can only ead it through us who say we are christians. Oprah is a strong Black influential woman, don't hate her, imitate her.
I dreamt once I had met her and was on the show.
Reply to this Comment | Report This