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AUDREY’S SOCIETY WHIRL: Black Alumni of Pratt party

The Black Alumni Of Pratt Celebrated Quartet Of Creative Spirits At It’s Seventeenth Annual Benefit Dinner At The Fabulous Jazz @ Lincoln Center

By Audrey J. Bernard/Lifestyles & Society Editor

(July 3, 2008)

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*On Monday, May 19, The Black Alumni of Pratt (BAP) celebrated its 17th annual benefit dinner at Jazz @ Lincoln Center, Allen Room, presented by Thomas F. Schutte, president of Pratt Institute and Dwight C. Johnson, president of BAP and the creative genius behind Dwight Johnson Design which is responsible for the innovative production behind some of the biggest galas in New York City – this one included.

Helping to make the evening a ginormous success was BAP’s advisory council consisting of notables such as Gayle Perkins Atkins, Jelani Bandele, Elizabeth Catlett, Malaak Compton-Rock, Evelyn Cunningham, Ruby Dee, Georgia Delano, June Kelly, Westina Matthews Shatteen, John Morning, Marva Smalls, Franklin A. Thomas and Denise Wiggins, manager of special events, and a driving force behind the evening’s success.

Themed a “Celebration of the Creative Spirit,” the black tie event honored four outstanding creative spirits – Preston Bailey (presented by Dr. Sheila Johnson); Lois P. Betts (presented by Kathryn Chenault); Julie Taymor (presented by Jessye Norman); and Veronica Webb (presented by Bethann Hardison).

Lovely Sade Baderinwa, co-anchor, WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News at 5, wore two hats as Mistress of Ceremonies and ace auctioneeress in which she raised additional funds to benefit BAP’s scholarship fund.

BAP was founded in 1990 to identify and advance scholastic and professional opportunities for Pratt students and alumni of African and Latino descent. Funds raised for the event are allocated to both BAP scholarship funds and BAP program initiatives.

The Honorable David N. and Joyce Dinkins served as honorary chairs for the stellar evening. The Betts Family Foundation and Kathryn & Kenneth Chenault served as co-chairs.

In tribute to honoree Taymor, creator of Disney on Broadway’s The Lion King, and the other honorees, cast members of the Tony Award winning play performed several hit numbers. (Photos: Crystal Cotton)