2021 DRUM MAJOR honorees - "WOMEN OF DISTINCTION"
DR. ALA STANFORD
DR. ALA STANFORD
DR. ALA STANFORD
DRUM MAJOR AWARD
for
Equality and Justice
Stanford Pediatric Surgery, LLC
Board certified by the American Board of Surgery in both pediatric and adult general surgery and a healthcare advocate.
She is the Founder of The Black Doctors
COVID-19 Consortium, BDCC
The first African-American woman to complete her training at University of Pittsburgh. • One of two first African-American women pediatric surgeons to complete her Pediatric Surgery fellowship in North America.
CAPTAIN LISA FORREST
DR. ALA STANFORD
DR. ALA STANFORD
DRUM MAJOR AWARD
for
Persevere and Achievement
- Philadelphia Fire Department -
The first female Fire Lieutenant to Engine 50 in North Philadelphia, one of the busiest engine companies in the
United States.
The first African American female Fire Captain in the Philadelphia Fire Department.
On September 29, 2020, made history again by becoming the first African American female Fire Battalion Chief in the Philadelphia Fire Department’s 149 years.
KOREN M. PARKER
DR. ALA STANFORD
KOREN M. PARKER
DRUM MAJOR AWARD
for
Labor Equality and Justice
President, Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women (Philly CLUW)
Pennsylvania State Vice President, CLUW
Staff Representative, AFSCME
District Council 88
Works with women all around the country on issues pertinent to women and working families, lobbying legislators on the importance of paid leave, rallying to close the gender pay gap and participating in community service work projects.
An advocate for Women’s Rights, Fair Working Conditions, and the Philly CLUW Liaison for PATC The Philadelphia Anti Human Trafficking Coalition.
2021 DRUM MAJOR honorees - "serving the community"
SHARE FOOD PROGRAM
CEDAR GROVE CHRISTIAN
CEDAR GROVE CHRISTIAN
GEORGE MATYSIK
Executive Director
DRUM MAJOR AWARD
for
Humanity and Caring
Share Food Program is the largest-serving hunger relief organization in the Philadelphia region, and one of the largest independent food banks in the nation. Before the Covid-19 crisis began, Share distributed food to 700,000 neighbors in need each month, 36% of whom were children, and 12% of whom were seniors. The need has risen sharply since early 2020—Share now serves more than 1 million each month.
Share Food Program leads the fight against food insecurity in the Philadelphia region by serving an expansive, quality partner network of community-based organizations and school districts engaged in food distribution, education, and food justice advocacy.
Share started in 1986 as a food co-op for communities in need of access to low-cost food in Philadelphia. Since 1991, Share has been a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to getting food to vulnerable children, families and seniors in need citywide and beyond to surrounding townships and counties throughout the Philadelphia region.
CEDAR GROVE CHRISTIAN
CEDAR GROVE CHRISTIAN
CEDAR GROVE CHRISTIAN
JEFF HOWARD
Principal
DRUM MAJOR AWARD
for
Beloveth Community
In 1968, Cedar Grove Christian Academy (CGCA) was born, with 56 students in grades 7 through 9. It quickly grew to provide services to preschoolers and elementary school students, providing the Philadelphia area with a school that would teach a curriculum grounded in the truth of God’s Word.
Throughout the years, God's leading and provision have been continually evident. Thousands of students from a wide array of ethnically and racially diverse families have experienced the benefits and blessings of the Christ-centered, Bible-based, quality education that Cedar Grove Christian Academy offers.
CGCA has been successful in opening school during the Covid-19 pandemic and collaborated with the King Association to distribute food boxes to families in need.
If you or anyone you know is looking for a Christ-centered school with an exceptional academic level, click below:
MISTRESS OF CEREMONY
CEDAR GROVE CHRISTIAN
MISTRESS OF CEREMONY
ALECIA REID
CBS 3 News Reporter
Alecia Reid joined the CBS3 Eyewitness News team in January 2020.
Before making her way to Philadelphia, Alecia spent six years in San Francisco as a reporter and fill-in anchor for KRON 4 News. She covered extensive breaking news stories including major events that went national.
She got her television break at News 12 in New York City, covering epic stories such as the Miracle on the Hudson, President Barack Obama’s 2008 Inauguration from Washington D.C., the 2010 NYC earthquake and Hurricane Irene in 2011.
One career highlight was seizing the opportunity to share her craft. Alecia proudly taught journalism during the Spring of 2019 at the Del York Creative Academy in Lagos, Nigeria.
Alecia is a 2-time Emmy nominee and is passionate about giving a voice to people that may not otherwise be able to tell their stories. When not covering the news, you can find her volunteering with a number of charitable organizations.
ANNUAL AWARDS AND BENEFIT LUNCHEON
OVERVIEW
In 1984, the year after the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday was officially enacted, President Ronald Reagan appointed the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King and then-Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean, to chair the King Federal Holiday Commission, which was charged with determining how the holiday was to be observed. Mrs. King's vision was to have the holiday commence each year at noon with the ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia--a worldwide symbol of freedom, justice, and equality--echoed by bells throughout the world, including those in Big Ben in London and in the Vatican. At the request of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence, Inc. lead by the Honorable Dr. C. DeLores Tucker, was given the responsibility for this observance since the national holiday honoring Dr. King began.
Previous National Bell Ringers and Drum Major honorees have included, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Hon. Judge Lynn Toler, Boyz II Men, Hon. Colin Powell, Hon. Edward G. Rendell, Ossie Davis, Cicely Tyson, Melba Moore, Sisters Sledge, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Reverend Leon H. Sullivan and Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. to name a few.
It honors individuals and organizations whose deeds are exemplary of the ideals fostered by Dr. King. The luncheon is a highly visible affair, which has been attended by over 2,000 people, and has been the largest luncheon in honor of Dr. King in the country. It receives national press coverage because of the ringing of the Liberty Bell at 12:00 noon which officially inaugurates the King Holiday.
Our luncheon has also showcased a who’s who of sponsors, who support the Dream of Dr. King’s Beloved Community. Previous Corporate Host Sponsors have included, Brown’s Family Shoprite and Pepsi Bottling Company, GMAC Mortgage Corporation, a host sponsor for three consecutive years, Citizens Bank, a host and a co-host sponsor for five year and Verizon. Other major sponsors have included Amerihealth Mercy, Independence Blue Cross, Lockheed Martin, Comcast, Fedex, UPS, State Farm, Wakefern and the William Penn Foundation, just to name a few.
The Annual Awards and Benefit Luncheon and National Bell Ringing Ceremony are held each year on the King Holiday and always promises to be one filled with excitement, camaraderie and hope for the creation of a truly beloved community. It is a major source of funding for the King Association and its youth development programs.
2021 C. DELORES TUCKER VOLUNTEER HONOREE
BETH ROSE
The C. DeLores Tucker Volunteer Award, named in honor of our late president and founder, the Honorable Dr. C. DeLores Tucker, is given each year to a volunteer whose outstanding contributions to. and whose ideals match the vision and mission of the Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence, Inc. (King Association)
BETH ROSE has been a consistent volunteer of the King Association since 2006. She has assisted with the Children's Christmas Party, Annual Awards and Benefit Luncheon and the College for Teens Program. She has unselfishly given her time to volunteering where ever she is needed including security, hostess, office assistant and driving. Beth has dropped other activities when there is a need at the King Association. Her unselfish devotion to this legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King and his ideal of a beloved community makes the King Association indeed proud to honor her.