The University of Memphis will honor JCPenney CEO Marvin R. Ellison at the “Join Hands for Change” gala April 21.
The gala will take place at the U of M Holiday Inn from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Dress is cocktail attire. The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change hosts this event annually.
This year’s theme is “Empowering, Supporting and Celebrating African American Men: Triumph Through Perseverance.”
Assistant director of the Hooks Institute for Change, Rorie N. Trammel, said the institute is delighted to honor Ellison because he embodies the gala’s theme of “Triumph Through Perseverance” and has lived an inspiring path to success.
“Like many U of M students, Ellison held a job while enrolled in order to pay for college expenses,” Trammel said. “He demonstrated a commitment to work hard, and that commitment was rewarded with advancement in his career.”
Trammel said honoring Ellison is special because he is one of “our own.” He is a West Tennessee native, who grew up in Brownsville, Tennessee, and is a distinguished alumnus from the Fogelman College of Business and Economics.
“Students attending the gala will hear Mr. Ellison’s story and, hopefully, apply some of his lessons to their own lives,” Trammel said.
The Institute will highlight Ellison’s contributions to the community and his professional success.
“I believe hard work, strong faith in God and a commitment to education are keys to achieving the success on desires in life,” Ellison said, according to the Hooks Institute.
The gala will also recognize other faculty who have been outstanding in their research, leadership and collaborations with the institute and who emphasize the work done by the institute itself with programs such as the Hooks African American Male Initiative and Splash Mid-South.
These programs are designed to help eliminate socioeconomic barriers within the African American community.
The African American Male Initiative was launched last year to help improve the retention and graduation rates of African American male students at the U of M, according to Trammel.
Splash Mid-South, an outreach program, partners with Hooks Institute researchers to find and assess successful outcomes for the African American youth enrolled in the swimming program.
“As a University of Memphis alumnus, I couldn’t be more proud of the mission that the Hooks Institute is leading, and I am truly humbled to be honored at this year’s gala,” said Ellison, reported by the Hooks Institute.
