CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION AND CBC SPOUSES HERITAGE CELEBRATION
RAISES VITAL FUNDS FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS

On March 1, 2005, hundreds gathered at the Washington, DC Lincoln Theatre for the First Annual Heritage Celebration hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and CBC Spouses. Presided over by CBCF Chair, Congressman William J. Jefferson and CBC Spouses Chair, Mrs. Vivian Creighton Bishop, the fundraiser brought out congressional members, area youth, and prominent guests for the symphonic stage presentation of Strange Fruit, which blends chorus, narration and instrumental jazz to tell a fictional account of an historical event in the South. Artistic Director, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) performed the 90-minute chorale with narrator, Congressman Danny K. Davis and the Howard University Choir. The event was broadcasted live by WPFW, a veteran radio station that regularly features jazz.

According to Congressman Jefferson, CBCF and the CBC Spouses chose to present the groundbreaking jazz piece to commemorate the legacy of African Americans and to generate support for congressional internship, fellowship, and scholarship programs. “As Chair of the CBCF, I am very pleased by the enthusiasm I’ve witnessed for NOJO’s performance and for our dedication to ensuring that deserving young African Americans continue to receive opportunities to work in congressional offices and to get resources for a good education.”

Several corporate sponsors such as, Food Lion, Shaw, Heineken and Cigna, showed their support with generous gifts, including donated airline tickets from Southwest Airlines and free radio publicity from WJZW 105.9. The major contribution for the event came from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "Toyota's corporate culture is built on two pillars, respect for people and continuous improvement," remarked Michael Rouse, Toyota’s Corporate Manager of Philanthropy and Community Affairs. "I believe these two principles also guide the work of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. The result has been a marvelous seventeen-year partnership between Toyota and the CBCF that strives to make our nation stronger by making it more inclusive."

The evening included a former intern and a congressional fellow as emcees, and two CBC Spouses scholarship recipients who performed at the top of the program. Mrs. Bishop expressed that the CBC Spouses were extremely pleased by the program’s focus on educational programs. “Having these bright young people as part of our event shows the significant value of these programs and the positive impact that is made on their lives.” Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, CBCF’s Vice President for Research and Programs added the hope that more people will want to support youth who have aspirations in public service. “One of our key goals with this event was to trumpet CBCF’s success stories and our commitment to education. The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra’s performance helped us do that in a very unique way.”

NOJO has long been involved in educating audiences on Black History through its traditional jazz forums. Each year, the Heritage Celebration plans to use various art forms to honor the heroism and valiance of African Americans who have played a role in creating Black History. Proceeds from the event will directly benefit CBCF and CBC Spouses education programs. The CBCF is a non-profit organization that serves as a nonpartisan, policy-oriented catalyst to educate future leaders and promote collaboration among community and business leaders, minority-focused organizational leaders, and organized labor to effect positive and sustainable change in the African American community. The CBC Spouses have worked in partnership with CBCF for 28 years to support the mission of connecting with and informing the public on critical issues implementing education programs to prepare future generations for leadership.