Star-Studded Fundraiser Supports the American Conference on Diversity Youth Leadership Institute

The American Conference on Diversity will pay tribute to five remarkable leaders during the 2015 Statewide Humanitarian Awards fundraiser on Thursday, April 2, in West Orange, NJ.

This premier annual event is one way the nonprofit organization raises funds to provide more than $65,000 in leadership-development scholarships for students and schools throughout New Jersey to participate in the Lead for Diversity (LFD) Institute. The yearlong Institute offers students a life-changing experience that ultimately prepares them to enter into a diverse workforce, advocate for social justice, and become stronger leaders among their peers. This program prepares youth to deal with the current discourse our country faces with race relations and other issues of injustice.

“I have the power to change the world. I have a duty because of it. What is the world if those who can, don’t?” said 2012 LFD Student Graduate Ryan McCluskey.

“I appreciated gaining knowledge on all the prejudice, stereotypes, and assumptions people make and how I can educate others. I learned to challenge my thoughts so my community can grow and become unified,” said 2013 Student Graduate Kush Shah.

For the past two decades, the American Conference on Diversity’s LFD Institute has empowered its 3,500 graduates to deliver their powerful messages of acceptance and inclusion into various sectors of our society. In a survey of past program participants, nearly 80 percent of the graduates said that attending LFD impacted their career choice, leading them to education, social work, nonprofit work, healthcare, government, law, and other professions.

To mark the 67th Anniversary of the organization and the 20th anniversary of LFD this year, the American Conference on Diversity will host this star-studded gala for corporate and community leaders to honor the following extraordinary individuals:

Dionne Warwick, Grammy Award-Winning Music Legend (Legacy Humanitarian Award)

Kevin Cummings, President & CEO of Investors Bank (Corporate Humanitarian Award)

Carol Evans, President & Founder of Working Mother Media (Diversity Ambassador Award)

Barbra "Babs" Casbar Siperstein, Executive Committee Member of the National Democratic Committee, Deputy Vice Chair of the NJ Democratic State Committee, and Political Director of the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of NJ (Advocacy Humanitarian Award)

Nadine O. Vogel, Founder & CEO of Springboard Consulting LLC (Bridge Builder Award)

In addition to live entertainment and networking opportunities, there will be a silent auction. The fundraiser will be held at the spectacular Pleasantdale Chateau, 757 Eagle Rock Ave., West Orange, NJ.

Seats are filling up quickly! To purchase tickets, contact Gala Coordinator Barbara Getze at bgetze@aol.com or call 800-626-8097. Tickets must be purchased in advance.