America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, will honor five extraordinary leaders with the Promise of America Award, its highest honor, at its annual Promise Night Gala in New York City on April 18.
The gala will follow Recommit to Kids | The Summit for America’s Future, a daylong convening of business, philanthropy, nonprofit, government, education and faith leaders in NYC focused on a national push to refocus the nation on the needs of young people.
Promise Night honorees exemplify how leaders from business, entertainment, government, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector each have a role in improving the lives of America’s youth.
“There is no better investment of time and money than that which we make in children,” said Alma J. Powell, chair, America’s Promise. “We thank our Promise of America honorees for their extraordinary work on behalf of children and youth and ask others to join us as we recommit ourselves and our work to helping all children reach their American dream.”
“Each honoree represents the best in his or her field, and each makes time to better the lives of children,” said America’s Promise President & CEO John Gomperts. “America’s Promise is proud to stand with such a committed group. Their work and advocacy on behalf of young people is exactly what we need to help more young people stay on a path to adult success.”
This year’s Promise of America honorees include:
• Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and CEO, American Express Company
• Common, hip-hop artist, actor, film producer, and founder of the Common Ground Foundation
• Arne Duncan, managing partner, Emerson Collective
• Bryan Stevenson, executive director, Equal Justice Initiative
• Dorothy Stoneman, founder, YouthBuild
The Promise of America Awards honor champions who have answered the call of every American president for the past 40 years to fulfill the Five Promises for children and youth: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education, and opportunities to serve.
Audra Day, along with the Boys & Girls Harbor Choir, and Kenny G will perform during the evening event.
Last year’s Promise of America Award recipients included Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO of Target Corporation; Dr. Angela Diaz, director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center; Patricia de Stacy Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; and Magic Johnson, chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises.
America’s Promise will present additional awards on April 18th, including the People of Promise, Promise Heroes and the Powell Legacy Awards, which recognize young adult leaders, community leaders and organizations creating change for young people, respectively.
