On April 23, 2015 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania will present an An Evening with Tavis Smiley, a benefit event in support of the Keystone Honors Academy. The event will take place on the historic Cheyney University campus and will entail a dinner reception at 5:00 PM in the Carnegie Great Room and at 7:00 PM, a lecture presented by Mr. Smiley, which will take place in the Marian Anderson Auditorium. Several ticket types and sponsorship packages are available, and all proceeds from the event will benefit students in the Keystone Honors Academy at Cheyney University.
From his celebrated conversations with world figures to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, Tavis Smiley — broadcaster, author, publisher, advocate, and philanthropist — has emerged as an outstanding voice for change. Smiley is currently the host of the late-night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS, as well as The Tavis Smiley Show from Public Radio International (PRI). Smiley has written 17 books, several of which became New York Times bestsellers. His memoir, What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, became a New York Times best seller, and the book he edited, Covenant with Black America, became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on The New York Times best-sellers list. The nonprofit Tavis Smiley Foundation recently announced a $3 million four-year campaign called ENDING POVERTY: America’s Silent Spaces to alleviate endemic poverty in America. TIME magazine has honored Smiley as one of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People,” and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce saluted Mr. Smiley with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Keystone Honors Academy is Cheyney University’s centerpiece program, providing a unique educational experience for academically gifted students. Annually, scholarship funds enable 150 Keystone Honors Academy students to pursue their educational and professional dreams. Many of these students would not be able to pursue a college degree without scholarship support. The honors academy’s persistence rate is 100% and the program graduates students at a rate that is twice that of the national average for African Americans. There are more than 500 alumni of the Keystone Honors Academy, and they are employed in the public and private sectors, spanning the fields of medicine and health, business, law, education, and public administration.
An Evening with Tavis Smiley is an exceptional opportunity for members of the honors academy and extended campus community to interact with the renowned author and broadcaster. The event is supported by a number of private donors.
For sponsorship information, contact Dr. John Graham in the Office of Institutional Advancement at 610-399-2714. For event information visit www.cheyney.edu or contact 610-399-2121.
