National Urban League and Johnson, Inc. Partner for Education and Basketball During the 8th Annual Big Apple Classic in Brooklyn
NEW YORK, NY and RICHMOND, VA (PRWEB) November 21, 2014 -- The National Urban League and Johnson Inc. have formed a national partnership for the 8th annual Big Apple Classic. A two-day educational event, the Big Apple Classic celebrates and promotes the achievements of Historically Black Colleges and Universities as well as educational advancement, particularly among people of color. This year, Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, will receive the Community Impact Award for his leadership of the National Urban League and the substantial impact he has made in putting our communities back to work. The award will be presented during halftime of the 6pm North Carolina Central University vs Howard University basketball game on Sunday, December 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
“The fulfilment that we get from the work that we do every day at the National Urban League – positively impacting the lives of millions of people across this nation – is tremendously rewarding and humbling,” said Morial. “So, it is an added honor when we receive recognition, such as the Community Impact Award, for following our passion and our purpose to empower our communities. We also acknowledge our partner, the Big Apple Classic, for its focus that goes beyond collegiate athleticism to celebrating the importance of a college education for African Americans.”
Kenneth S. Johnson, CEO of Johnson, Inc. and founder of the Big Apple Classic, notes, “With a mission to increase awareness of the importance of a college education, especially among minorities, and expose the rich academic and athletic heritage of HBCUs to students in the Northeastern region, the Big Apple Classic partnership with the National Urban League creates a natural synergy.”
Fans can look forward to watching one of the longest-running rivalries in the history of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), when the Virginia State Trojans take on the Virginia Union Panthers at 3 p.m. at the Barclays Center. In addition, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) rivals—the North Carolina Central University Eagles and Howard University Bison—will battle at 6 p.m. Although the two games are often considered the highlight of the weekend, the Big Apple Classic extends far beyond collegiate basketball. Additional programming will include a Leadership Summit hosted by the United Federation of Teachers on December 6th and a College Fair featuring more than 25 top universities and Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools; a step show; and “Battle of the Bands” expo at the Barclay’s Center on December 7th.
Tickets for the Big Apple Classic at the Barclays Center are currently on sale and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster by visiting http://www.barclayscenter.com or http://www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. As a part of the partnership, the National Urban League is offering a special $5 discount to its supporters on the purchase of 2014 BAC tickets using code “BACNUL”.
Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. For information on individual suites, please call 718-BK-SUITE.
Big Apple Classic Ticket Prices:
Lower Level and 100-Level Seating: $26.50 Reserved Seating
Floor Seating: $46.50 Reserved Seating
Big Apple Classic Weekend Schedule:
Saturday, December 6:
Leadership Summit
Location: The United Federation of Teachers Building, 50 Broadway, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10004
Students have the opportunity to join some of the top industry influencers from across the country as they share their expertise and relay the skills necessary to excel as global industry leaders. The Big Apple Classic Leadership Summit will feature dynamic seminars designed to inform, empower, and motivate high school and college students in their pathways to success.
The BAC Leadership Summit will consist of multiple sessions, centered on the following topics: Financial Literacy/Investing, New Media & the 21st Century, Sustainability & Going “Green,” Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Diversity in Sports.
*Leadership Summit participant registration will be coordinated through the United Federation of Teachers Career & Technical Education Office in New York City.
Sunday, December 7:
Location: Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
2 pm| College Fair (Barclays Center Concourse)
3pm | Virginia State University vs. Virginia Union University Basketball Game
• Battle of the Bands Expo-Halftime Show
• Step Show
6pm| North Carolina Central University vs. Howard University Basketball Game
• Battle of the Bands Expo-Halftime Show
Additional event details to be announced
For more information on the Big Apple Classic, visit http://www.thebigappleclassic.com.
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About the Big Apple Classic
The Big Apple Classic was launched eight years ago as New York’s first ever HBCU basketball competition. Produced by Johnson, Inc. (http://www.johnsonmarketing.com), a Richmond, VA based marketing and communications firm, the Big Apple Classic has one primary goal: to increase the awareness of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to students in the Northeast region. In addition to exciting basketball action featuring top CIAA and MEAC teams, BAC attendees enjoy live entertainment, an HBCU college fair, and more. Each year, the BAC partners with a non-profit organization or charitable cause that impacts the African American community, and donates a portion of the ticket proceeds.
About the National Urban League
The National Urban League (http://www.nul.org) is an historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization dedicated to economic empowerment in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League has improved the lives of tens of millions of people nationwide through direct service programs that are implemented locally by its 95 Urban League affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia. The organization also conducts public policy research and advocacy activities from its D.C.-based Washington bureau. The National Urban League, a BBB-accredited organization, has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, placing it in the top 10 percent of all U.S. charities for adhering to good governance, fiscal responsibility and other best practices.
Latraviette Smith, National Urban League, http://www.nul.org, +1 (212) 558-5433, [email protected]
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