SUSAN L. TAYLOR

FOUNDER

I am honored to have lived my adult life as a servant leader, humbled to be told that my work at Essence touched many— and beyond grateful that along the journey I too have experi- enced transformation. As I take my 70th turn around the sun, the one gift I request is that we stand together to transform the lives of our nation’s most defenseless children. We can secure millions by replicating across the country our proven-effective STEM and workforce-readiness initiatives. This is a fight for our nation’s future. Linking arms and aims, it is one we will win.

For the Love of Our Children: A National Call to Commitment
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Lee Daniels Invites You to Join Him As He Hosts FOR THE LOVE OF OUR CHILDREN.

The funds raised that evening and during the life of the campaign will directly support the national roll-out of The Rising group-mentoring programs and public schools-HBCU STEM initiative; and the life-transforming workforce-development initiative now being piloted in several high-poverty communities. The National CARES programs ensure that our industries and government will have the skilled, diverse workforce, including the scientists, engineers and technology experts, needed to keep America economically and socially strong. And what makes the evening extra special is that it’s also the moment Susan takes her 70th turn around the sun.

Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown

Married for over 50 years, Eddie and Sylvia’s community and philanthropic efforts have been extensive. In early 2002, their Brown Family Foundation announced the creation of the Turning the Corner Achievement Program (TCAP), an unprecedented education initiative for African-American middle school students in Baltimore. In 2012, they joined the Woodrow Wilson National Cabinet as founding members. Eddie serves on the Cabinet’s Investment Committee and Sylvia serves on the Fellowship Committee. In 2013, the couple received honorary doctorate of humane letters from Johns Hopkins University; the first husband and wife to do so in the history of the university. The twosome also received honorary doctorate of humane letters from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) for their extraordinary contributions in the arts, education and community. Most recently in 2015, the couple was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from their alma mater, Howard University.