Black Enterprise magazine founder and the “Manhattans” for Prime Minister Douglas' New Year’s Gala
.jpg) |
|
Earl Graves Sr.
|
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, DECEMBER 17TH 2007 (CUOPM) - Publisher and founder of America’s Black Enterprise Magazine, Earl Gilbert Graves, Sr. is the Guest Speaker at the Seventh Annual Prime Minister’s New Year’s Gala.
Chairperson of the Gala Committee, the Hon. Marcella Liburd said that the prominent American entrepreneur and philanthropist, has accepted the invitation of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas to speak at the January 5th 2008 event in the Grand Ballroom of the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort. The event begins at 7:30 P.M.
“2008 will see the full implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Our theme “BEYOND BORDERS,” therefore is a timely reminder that to be successful individually and as a nation, we must move not only beyond our physical borders but our mental, economic, and partisan borders as well,” said Liburd, adding, that the theme fittingly captures the life of Mr. Earl Graves Sr.
She said that Mr. Graves, a corporate giant, who has been officially designated by Harvard University, as one of the most outstanding business leaders of the 20th, “will share with St. Kitts & Nevis his special insights on empowerment and moving beyond borders.”
“His stimulating address will be followed by unforgettable performances by the famous American R & B vocal group “The Manhattans” which brought us such hits as “Kiss and Say Goodbye”, “There’s No Me Without You” and “Shining Star,” said Ms. Liburd.
“The combined effect of our very own Modern Image Band and The Manhattans is sure to create and evening of extraordinary magic,” she said.
Graves was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 9th 1935 and grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of New York City. He is a 1958 alumnus of Morgan State University, having received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. ~~Adz:Right~~
From 1965 to 1968, Graves served as an administrative assistant to Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He is the father of Earl G. Graves, Jr.
In 1968, Graves started Earl G. Graves, Ltd. Under that holding company, he began the Earl G. Graves Associates management consulting firm. In 1970, the company’s Earl G. Graves Publishing Company division began publishing Black Enterprise magazine. Black Enterprise states as its goal to provide inspiration to African Americans in the business sector. The magazine has 500,000 paid subscribers and over 3 million readers. It has also grossed $53 million in sales.
Black Enterprise Events is another division of Earl G. Graves, Ltd., which coordinates gatherings for the readers of Black Enterprise. The Black Entrepreneurs Conference, Black Enterprise Golf and Tennis Challenge, and Women of Power Summit are a few of the events sponsored by Black Enterprise Events.
Earl Graves, Ltd., also co-owns a private equity fund with Travelers Group called the Black Enterprise/Greenwich Street Corporate Growth Fund. The purpose of the fund is to invest in minority controlled businesses.
From 1990 to 1998, Graves owned the Pepsi Cola bottling franchise in Washington D.C., is a director of Aetna, AMR Corporation, Daimler AG, Federated Department Stores and Rohm and Haas, and is a volunteer on the boards of TransAfrica Inc. and the American Museum of Natural History and Hayden Planetarium in New York City.
Graves received the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America in 1988, and served as the national commissioner from 1990 to 1995. He received the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal in 1999. Graves donated $1 million to Morgan State’s school of business and management. His alma mater honored him by changing the name of the school of business to the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management.
In 2002, Graves was named as one of the 50 most powerful and influential African Americans in corporate America by Fortune magazine. He serves on the George W. Bush administration's Presidential Commission for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. On April 26, 2007 Earl G.
Graves Sr. was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.
Guest Speakers at previous galas included prominent United Congresswoman, the Hon. Maxine Waters; Actress Cicely Tyson; Nation of Islam Leader, the Hon. Louis Farahkahan; Emmy Award Winner and Broadcaster Del Walters; Founder and President of TransAfrica, Mr. Randall Robinson and African-American icon, musician and actor, His Excellency Ambassador Harry Belafonte.
