National Urban League Honors Retired General Colin L. Powell with Humanitarian Award at 53rd Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner

New York, NY – The National Urban League held its 53rd Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel. The National Urban League’s Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner rewards individuals and corporations that demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunity and exhibit leadership for the cause of equal rights. This year at the dinner, Marc H. Morial, the President and CEO of the National Urban League presented General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.) with its Humanitarian Award for his tremendous achievements in the cause of humanitarianism.

“The individuals and organizations honored at the Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner set the example for all of us in their commitment to the greater community,” said National Urban League President and CEO, Marc H. Morial. “This year’s recipients display exceptional leadership encouraging empowerment in all aspects of society.”

This year the National Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner was chaired by John G. Stumpf, President and CEO, Wells Fargo & Company. The National Urban League is partnering with Wells Fargo to expand foreclosure prevention programs, stabilize neighborhoods and increase financial literacy to ultimately empower communities. Maurice DuBois, co-anchor at CBS 2 News This Morning served as MC for the evening and Grammy award winner Quincy Jones was in attendance.

Other award highlights include:

• Barbara Smith and Dan Gasby, entrepreneurs and co-owners of B. Smith Restaurants (NYC, DC and Sag Harbor, NY), presented Amonica and John Davis, co-owners of ServiceMaster by Davis, with the Entrepreneurship Award for their extraordinary achievements as ServiceMaster franchisees and their dedication to economic empowerment.
• John D. Hofmeister, Chairman of National Urban League presented President and CEO of Walmart, Michael Duke with the Corporate Leadership Award for Walmart’s generous support of the National Urban League workforce development programs.
• The National Urban League inducted its 2009 “Million and Five Million Dollar Hall of Fame” class recognizing organizations that contributed $1 million or more to advance the work of the League. This year’s $1 Million Hall of Fame awards were presented to the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Sprint Nextel Corporation. $5 Million Hall of Fame awards were presented to ExxonMobil Corporation and Freddie Mac.

In 1956, the National Urban League held its first Equal Opportunity Day Awards dinner, giving awards to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary James P. Mitchell and Jacob S. Potofsky, President of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. Since then, Muhammad Ali, Hillary Rodham and William Jefferson Clinton, Iman, Quincy Jones, Richard Parsons, Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee, among others, have been honorees.

National Urban League (www.nul.org) - Established in 1910, The National Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than two million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.