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12-04-08
OPRAH WINFREY DONATES $1 MILLION DOLLARS TO SUSAN L. TAYLOR’S NATIONAL CARES MENTORING MOVEMENT

     Oprah Winfrey and more than 300 friends, family and supporters of Susan L. Taylor, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of Essence magazine, gathered recently for an evening of celebration and fundraising at New York City’s ESPACE. The event honored the spiritual guidance and community leadership Susan provided to millions of readers during her 37-year career at the magazine, and raised funds for her National CARES Mentoring Movement (NCMM). 
     Susan L. Taylor helped advance a generation of Black women. Over the decades, the legendary chief editor was the visionary and heart behind one of the most respected Black brands in the world. She will forever be synonymous with Essence, the brand she built. Today, her calling is to help secure a generation of Black children through the work of NCMM.
     Oprah Winfrey originally made a $500,000 commitment to NCMM—the largest single donation to date. So moved by the spirit of the evening, Winfrey doubled her donation—a total of $1 million—to undergird the mission of NCMM and encouraged attendees to join in the effort.
     In addition to Oprah Winfrey, other special guests in attendance included Ruby Dee, Sean Combs, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Common, Michael Eric Dyson, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Marcia Ann Gillespie, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Roland S. Martin, Terrie M. Williams, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Thomas Dortch, board chairman of NCMM. The inspiring evening of song, celebration and life-changing benefits of mentoring also featured performances by gospel greats Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin.
     The event also celebrated 15 youth from the Eagle Academy for Young Men in the Bronx; a high school started by the 100 Black Men of New York and at which every student has a mentor. With the commitment of teachers, administrators and the hundreds who volunteer as mentors, the graduation rate for the young men is nearly 100%.
     “What a blessing Oprah’s generosity is to the healing of so many young lives,” said Taylor. “Her extraordinary gift of love took my breath away. Mentoring is critical to securing the future of our communities. Oprah has been so supportive of our work, and her donation – along with that of all others who attended this evening – will ensure that our mentor-recruitment efforts continue to thrive. She knows, as all who give of themselves as mentors know, that by reaching back to help we all move forward, and that giving just an hour of our time to an underserved young person, we can save and secure a life. There are millions of children suffering needlessly all around us. With this kind of continued support, we will end the cycles of academic and social disengagement that are debilitating our communities and country. Mentoring is the answer. It is the best and most meaningful gift we can give this holiday season.”
     Taylor founded the National CARES Mentoring Movement as Essence Cares in 2006 after hurricane Katrina. National CARES is a mentor-recruitment movement that works to fill the pipeline of youth-supporting organizations throughout the country with mentors. Its mission is to save a generation by putting a caring adult in the life of every at-risk child and those who have already fallen into peril. National CARES Circles operate in more than 50 cities around the country such as: Anchorage, Annapolis, Austin, Augusta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Broward County (FL), Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Montgomery, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Raleigh, Sacramento, Seattle, Washington, DC and others.
     The event was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, Grey Goose Vodka, ESSENCE, MTV/VIACOM, Verizon, Godiva Chocolatier, Jet Blue, Urban Books, Ellin LaVar Textures, MC Lyte and Sony Music, Soaring Elephant Productions, Urban Books, Spoonbread, CakeMan Raven, Guardian Association of the New York State Court, The Daily Blossom, The Terrie M. Williams Agency, Studio9 Media Group and Scholastic.
     For more information about the National CARES Mentoring Movement, visit their website at www.caresmentoring.com.