An Evening of Elegance at the 2024 UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball, Builds Upon its Legacy

An evening of elegance unfolded at the 41st Annual UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball, held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at the Signia Hotel by Hilton. Over 2,000 guests gathered to support the United Negro College Fund’s ongoing efforts to provide scholarships for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The event marked a significant milestone for the UNCF, continuing its longstanding tradition of raising funds for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This year, the organization celebrated 80 years of supporting students and institutions. The theme for the evening, “Honoring the Legacy, Transforming our Future,” focused on recognizing the contributions of UNCF’s founders, donors, and partners, while emphasizing the transformative power of education in communities.

Donned in their finest attire of evening gowns, tuxedos, and masks, the event attracted prominent business, political, civic, and community leaders, among others. Celebrities also attended to support the great cause of keeping students in school.

Spotlight Publisher Shelia Edwards, who chaired the Mayor’s Ball in 2001 and currently serves as a Vice Chair for the annual event, hosted guests at her company-sponsored table. Among her guests were State Rep. Terry Cummings, former State Representative and Democratic nominee for Labor Commissioner William Boddie, and community and political leaders from Cobb, including Michael Murphy, Cassandra Brown, and Attorney Yashica Marshall (candidate for Cobb County Commission). As a graduate of a UNCF-supported school, Edwards is both proud and honored to support UNCF in its fundraising efforts and to host the Mayor’s Masked Ball each year. Her deep connection to the mission of UNCF, combined with her dedication to supporting students at HBCUs, reflects her commitment to ensuring that future generations have access to the transformative power of education.

Throughout its history, the Mayor’s Masked Ball has raised more than $1 billion, and this year alone, it raised over $3.6 million to fund scholarships for students attending HBCUs.

Guests were treated to an elegant dinner and a silent auction. The evening featured performances by the legendary Charlie Wilson, along with live music from Big Boi and Killer Mike at the “After Masked Ball” party, which also helped raise additional funds for the cause.

The Mayor’s Masked Ball was originally launched over 40 years ago by the late Hank Aaron, his wife Billye, and former Mayor Andrew Young. The event benefits 13 private HBCUs across Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and others.

Here are the schools served by this premiere philanthropic effort:

Georgia

• Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta)
• The Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta)
• Morehouse College (Atlanta)
• Paine College (Augusta)
• Spelman College (Atlanta)

South Carolina

• Allen University (Columbia)
• Benedict College (Columbia)
• Claflin University (Orangeburg)
• Morris College (Sumter)
• Voorhees University  (Denmark)

Tennessee

• Fisk University (Nashville)
• Lane College (Jackson)
• LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis)

For more information, please visit UNCF Atlanta’s website.