Urban Tech founder and president Pat Bransford, honoree Stephen Byrd, First
Lady of New York Michelle Paige Paterson, honoree Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The National
Urban Technology Center (Urban Tech) honored outstanding
community leaders Dr. Mehmet Oz and Stephen
C. Byrd at the 2008 Urban Tech fundraising gala held on
Wednesday, June 4 at Capitale in New York.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a world-renowned heart surgeon, is best known for
his contributions to the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” Discovery
Health, and CNN. He is a practicing Professor of Cardiac Surgery
at Columbia University, performing over 100 operations per year and
has written over 350 publications.
Stephen C. Byrd is the producer of the first all-African American
production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” With a
background in investment banking, Mr. Byrd has over 27 years of experience
on Wall Street.
The 2008 Corporate Leadership Award was presented to The Wachovia
Corporation for their work to improve financial literacy in underprivileged
communities.
Proceeds from the fundraising event will go to Urban Tech programs
in over 600 schools and community-based organizations across the
United States including 70 New York City public schools that promote
academic excellence, healthy living, financial literacy and community
leadership.
Urban Tech was founded in 1995 by Patricia Bransford to give urban
communities access to technology and improve educational and economic
opportunity for America’s disadvantaged youth. Urban Tech
teaches life skills, academic and computer literacy to at risk youth
by leveraging cutting edge learning technology centers across the
country. To make this possible two major programs have been created,
Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) and SeedTech, which ramps up installations
of computer centers and computer training for teachers.
Mrs. Marita Monroe, NBA Legend Earl “the Pearl” Monroe, Tammy Heyman, John Starks, Pat Bransford, Tom Bransford.
Pat Bransford, David Perlman, and Skye Raiser.
Master of Ceremonies Maurice Dubois, Dr. Mehmet Oz, John Starks and Stephen Byrd.
Partygoers with Lynn Whitfield.
Pat Bransford, Sharon Brown, Debra Chase Martin, Alicia Blythewood.
