CHICAGO, IL, May 29, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In celebration of UNCF (United Negro College Fund) 81st anniversary, UNCF Chicago will host its "25th Annual UNCF Black & White Ball."

Branded "A Mind Is…"® (AMI) Gala in recent years, it is one of the city's signature fundraising and premier social events of the year. The Black & White Ball, supported by a committed community of donors, corporations and event sponsors, will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, reception at 6:00 p.m. – dinner and program begins at 7:00 p.m. at THE GERAGHTY, 2520 S. Hoyne Ave., Chicago. It was recently announced that to honor their beginnings, UNCF is returning to a Black and White affair! Attire is formal with guests wearing black and/or white only. Additionally, UNCF Chicago will be recognizing two extraordinary honorees, an individual and one corporate supporter: financial juggernaut Ariel Investments, "A Mind Is…" Corporate Award Honoree; and Co-owner and Operating Chair, The Chicago Sky's Nadia Rawlinson, "A Mind Is…" Trailblazer Award Recipient.

"Looking into our 81st year, these honorees uphold the mission of UNCF of investing in Better Futures through our students," said Lisa M. Rollins, Regional Development Director, UNCF. "It is appropriately so that we proudly recognize them for their tireless dedication, working to ensure that our students, not only enter, but graduate college. They help make a difference in the lives of deserving students. We are so grateful for their level of support and to have them as best allies."

Gala Chair Sherina Edwards said, "As an alum of two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Howard University and Spelman College, I am so proud to serve as Chair of the 25th Annual UNCF Black & White Ball. Throughout its 81 years, UNCF-member schools have made a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of students, including mine. I am extremely dedicated to this cause and will work fervently to help the next generation of students, who are our future, attend college." This year the AMI fundraising goal is to raise $1 million for scholarships!

The evening promises to be a night filled with purpose and a resounding voice for the Chicago community to join UNCF in supporting the call for equality in education.

It will also be a festive affair with music, dancing, and exquisite food fare. Entertainment will be provided by the R & B group "After 7." The group was formed in 1987 by the older brothers of the songwriter and singer, Babyface, and originally consisted of Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, along with a third member, Keith Mitchell. They had a career of hits such as platinum-selling "Heat of the Moment," "Ready or Not" and "Cant Stop". In 2019, Melvin Edmonds passed away; the present group members are Kevon Edmonds, Wil Robinson and Jeremy Keith.

From 2022 – 2023, UNCF awarded 541 scholarships to students in Illinois.

UNCF's iconic motto now revised still rings true…a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in™. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.uncf.org/chicago or contact UNCF at 312-845-2200.

About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of bachelor's degrees, 5% of master's degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste."® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

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