Twelfth Annual Katie Hall Public Service Awards Luncheon Program

Name: Twelfth Annual Katie Hall Public Service Awards Luncheon Program
Start: 2025-04-05T12:00:00-05:00
Location: St. Timothy Community Church, 1600 West 25th Avenue, Gary, Indiana, 46404

Schedule

Sat, 05 Apr, 2025 at 12:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

St. Timothy Community Church, 1600 West 25th Avenue, Gary, Indiana, 46404 | Gary, IN

DR. VANESSA ALLEN-MCCLOUD AND STEPHEN C. MAYS TO RECEIVE KHEF CHAIRMAN’S AWARD ON APRIL 5TH IN GARY
On Saturday, April 5th, the Katie Hall Educational Foundation will recognize two outstanding leaders and public servants, Dr. Vanessa Allen-McCloud, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana and Stephen C. Mays, President of the Gary Branch of the National Association For the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) with its 2025 Chairman’s Award.
For over thirty-five (35) plus years, Dr. Allen-McCloud’s passion for education and love for her community have driven her efforts to dutifully serve the community of Gary and Northwest Indiana. After serving for almost ten (10) years in leadership with the Gary Community School Corporation, in 2019, Dr. Allen-McCloud became President and CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, an organization that works to promote, encourage, and enhance services to improve social, educational, and economic conditions of African-Americans and other minority groups in Northwest Indiana.
There is so much more that Dr. Allen-McCloud has contributed to her community in the areas of education and community service. She continues to use her gifts and talents by singing with the Voices of Love Choir Ministry, and from “time to time” sing America’s National Anthem at the former Genesis Convention Center and the Railcats Stadium.
President Stephen C. Mays assumed the presidency of the Gary Branch of the NAACP over ten (10) years ago. Today, he leads the largest independent civil rights organization in the State of Indiana, with its national roots dating back to its founding in 1909, by a group including Dr. W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells, Mary White Ovington, amongst others.
The Gary Branch of the NAACP was formed in 1916, with one of its early leaders being Mr. Alfred Hall, a great uncle of Katie Hall Educational Foundation Chair and CEO, Junifer Hall,JD,MPA,MBA. This local branch has been on the forefront of influencing positive change to enhance our society and promote the greater good for everyone in the areas of civil rights, economic justice, social jobs, and equal opportunities for all of humanity’s citizenry.
President Mays is a graduate of Gary Theodore Roosevelt High School and studied at Ball State University, where he garnered the necessary tools to own and manage his very own State Farm Insurance Agency located in Munster, Indiana.
The VIP Reception will begin at 12:00PM Noon with the 2025 Class of Honorees as our Guests of Honor, to include other local dignitaries, elected officials and other persons. Music for the VIP Reception will be performed by Violin Concertmeiseter David L. Howard of the Gary Civic Symphony. The VIP Reception will consist of the serving of fresh fruit, assorted donuts, muffins, coffee, tea, juices, and yogurt.
Immediately, following the VIP Reception- the Awards Program will begin at 1:00PM with a full Luncheon meal being served.
The Billy Foster Trio featuring jazz vocalist, Mrs. Renee' Miles-Foster will perform blending iconic standards like "Take The A Train" with vibrant adaptions of instrumental masterpieces by Ellington, Coltrane, Basie, and more!
Both events will be held at the Robert L. Lowery Fellowship Hall on the campus of St. Timothy Community Church, 1600 West 25th Avenue in Gary, Indiana, 46404. Admission is $100.00 per person.
Sponsorships are available upon request. For more information, please contact [email protected].
The Katie Hall Educational Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all deductions are deductible to the extent allowed by federal law.