Scholarship gala Sept. 15
Anheuser-Busch’s Johnny Furr Jr. will serve as general chairman and Cedric “The Entertainer” will serve as honorary general chairman for the upcoming 2006 Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Banquet. The Salute, now in its 19th year, will be held Friday, September 15 at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. This annual celebratory event provided $106,000 in student scholarships and community grants last year. The event is presented by the St. Louis American Foundation.
“We’re thrilled to have both Johnny and Cedric on board this year,” said Donald M. Suggs, president of the St. Louis American Foundation. “They both are respected for their proven, substantial interest in education, particularly urban education. Despite their busy schedules, there are committed to this recognition of St. Louis’ outstanding educators, and represent a perfect fit for what we’re trying to do.”
Johnny Furr Jr. is vice president, Urban Marketing and Community Affairs for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., the nation’s largest brewer. In this role, Furr leads the development of objectives, strategies and action focused on sales in urban and African-American markets. In addition, his responsibilities include leading the company’s community affairs and community outreach departments, which develop programs, partnerships and cause-marketing initiatives with community-based organizations across the nation.
In 27 years with Anheuser-Busch, Furr’s career began in sales and marketing, where he held a variety of key beer sales management positions, including region administrator, manager of National Sales Operations, and division sales manager. From 1998 to 2000, he also served on Anheuser-Busch’s Management Development Panel, an exclusive group of corporate executives who work directly with the company’s most senior officers. In 2000, he was named vice president, Corporate Affairs. In 2002 he was named vice president, Sales Development and Community Affairs, a post he held until being named to his current position.
Furr is a corporate officer and board member of Anheuser-Busch. A native St. Louisan, he is a graduate of Sumner High School and received a bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing from Saint Louis University. In various leadership roles he has served as co-chair of the United Way of Greater St. Louis’ Charmaine Chapman Society; chair of the National Council of Negro Women’s “Uncommon Height” fundraising gala; chair of the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education fundraising event; chair of the Gateway Classic Foundation’s awards gala; and vice chair of the national United Negro College Fund’s Presidential Gala.
Enlighten, educate, entertain
Considered one of the funniest comics in America, actor/comedian Cedric “The Entertainer” is best known as one of the headlining stars of the hit feature film The Original Kings of Comedy, directed by Spike Lee, and for his role in Barbershop and on the Steve Harvey Show.
Cedric has a strong history of showing an interest in education. Founded in 1995 by Cedric and his sister, Sharita Kyles Wilson, the Cedric The Entertainer Charitable Foundation, Inc. is committed to enhancing the lives of youths and families in the state of Missouri. The foundation’s motto is to enlighten, educate and entertain. It has established two primary ways in which to reach out and give back to the community.
A scholarship fund has been established to assist high school graduates during their first year of college. The scholarships (ranging from $500 to $5,000) are distributed annually in St. Louis. The foundation has also established a joint scholarship with the United Negro College Fund. This scholarship is offered to high school students across the St. Louis area who plan to attend a historically black university.
The Entourage Program aims to broaden the scope of the world for inner-city children. Each year the program provides a chaperoned field trip to a group of 10-20 young people, ranging in age from 10-16 years old. These young people are taken outside of their communities and exposed to cultural and professional experiences, such as visits to major corporations, live theatre performances, art museum tours and sporting events. Cedric and his sister personally lead the charge on the Entourage field trip, overseeing and participating in each phase.
There will be subsequent announcements about this year’s awardees, keynote speaker, major attendance prizes and post-banquet entertainment.
Tickets for the 19th annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Banquet, to be held Friday Sept. 15, are available for $85 each for general seating (tables of 10 for $850), and $1,500 for a VIP/corporate table of 10. For information and tickets please call (314) 533-8000.
