Autographed memorabilia by former Auburn standout Bo Jackson, current Tigers coach Gene Chizik, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, former University of Alabama running back Mark Ingram and other sports stars will be among the items in a silent auction during the 12th annual gala for The 100 Black Men of Greater Mobile.
The gala, which will be highlighted by an appearance by Chizik, took place last, May 31st Thursday at the Mobile Convention Center beginning at 7 p.m. The silent auction bidding begins at 6 p.m.
“This is our largest fundraiser of the year,” said executive director Phil Tyus. “We’ve had several prominent keynote speakers with former governors Bob Riley and Don Siegleman being a couple. This year we’re bringing in Auburn University head coach Gene Chizik. We’re always on the lookout for a name that’s going to appeal to individuals across the board. As much as it’s a fundraiser, we also want the event to have a broad base community appeal.”
Proceeds from the silent auction will be donated to the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund to support victims in Alabama affected by the tornado-stricken areas last year. Also new to this year’s gala is a partnership with Jackson and his charity “Bo Bikes Bama.”
The 100 Black Men is a national men’s civic and service organization whose membership includes professionals, educators and civic leaders who seek to serve as positive role models for young people.
Mobile’s chapter was the first founded in the state and according to Tyus four pillars drive the organization locally as well as nationally.
“Education, mentoring, health and wellness and economic development — these are the areas in which our energies are directed on a national basis,” he said. “Locally our focus has been primarily education and mentoring and as a result of that we’ve touched more than 5,000 students from the Mobile County School system. Also, as a result of our fundraising we’ve given out more than $250,000 in college scholarships. We had two young men that received scholarships and came through our program to graduate this year, one from the University of South Alabama and the other from Alabama A&M University.”
In Mobile, the group operates the Phoenix Program, a successful alternative designed to provide educational opportunities for students who are at risk of dropping out of school and face expulsion or suspension. Under the program, students are urged to stay in school and modify their behavior. Since inception, the program has helped thousands of youngsters and awarded scholarship monies.
