Staff WriterThe stage is set as the Second Annual Young, Gifted & Black 2007 Entrepreneurial Awards will closeout Black History Month by honoring twenty (20) key individuals for their Talent, Ambition & Achievements towards the Continued Pursuit of Success. This program that began in 2006 as a simple measure of giving recognition, highlighting and showing appreciation towards his peers, Mr. Carl O. Gray, President & CEO of the New York based special events & marketing company, The NetLinkz Group, Inc., has created a platform that has caught the attention of many onlookers.
Mr. Gray had no intention of creating the YGB Entrepreneurial Awards program as an annual event. He explains that, “my partners & I were doing a marketing program for the Blue Mahoe Restaurant in NYC. We launched the marketing campaign to attract new customers to patronize the establishment and thought that a good method of getting an audience out would be to create a weekly event titled ‘One Luv Wednesdays’. The event launched in February 2006 during Black History Month and each week a special tribute or emphasis was placed on key individuals to honor during the Month. During week one (1) the focus was placed on Robert Nesta Marley being that his birthday fell on February 6th and his contribution to Reggae music worldwide, week two (2) Coretta Scott King for her position in history and to honor our strong women of colour, week three (3) the highlight was the Historical Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) & the Pan Hellenic Greek Fraternal Organizations, then week four (4) was an impromptu idea to just show appreciation to everyday individuals who keep making strides in their lives as entrepreneurs. There was no real criteria set to give the award other than the persons strive for success, their accomplishment & achievement. I wanted people to see the path that they took from where they came to where they are now and where they are going.” Mr. Gray feels that there are many individuals in our lives that do not get the accreditations or notoriety because they are not mentioned in the media, but they are impact full at what they do for their industry. Some of last years awards include Hip-Hop Legend/Icon ‘Kool DJ Red-Alert’, 98.7 KISS FM morning show host ‘Talent’, Gary Foster Chairman of Upliftment Jamaica & VP of Russell Simmons Rush Communications. To see a complete list of the 2006 recipients visit: http://www.netlinkzgrpinc.com/events/ygbawards/2006recipients.htm
This years YGB Awards carry the same humble traits with the awardees selection. To name a few will include WBLS 107.5FM radio host Dahved Levy, Power 105.1FM morning show host Donnell Rawlings, Heather Kollar, President & CEO of Blue Knight Greetings, Inc, James Goring Senior Project Director of VP Records, Inc & NYS Senator John Sampson. To see the complete list of awardees visit: http://www.netlinkzgrpinc.com/events/ygbawards/invite.htm
This year’s YGB Awards will be held at the swank & trendy west side venue PRE:POST, located at 547 West 27th Street NYC. The event is from 6pm-11pm and an email R.S.V.P. is required to attend: send email to [email protected]. The awards receptions will start at 8pm sharp!. For table reservations, call 212.695.7270
jamarch
