The Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade will honor Dr. Robert K. Ross at its annual Pioneer of African American Achievement Awards Dinner on Nov. 2, 2012.
Ross is being recognized with the distinguished Bremond-Bakewell Award for his efforts to create healthy communities locally, statewide, as well as throughout the country. Since 2000, Dr. Ross has headed The California Endowment and was previously the director of the Health and Human Services Agency for the County of San Diego, commissioner of Public Health for the City of Philadelphia.
The theme for the 2012 awards dinner is Ways of Giving, and this exciting evening will celebrate the facets of philanthropy, and how each of us has the power to change the world by giving and serving within our own communities.
“I am very excited about honoring Dr. Ross,” said Charisse Bremond-Weaver, president and CEO of Brotherhood Crusade. “He is a man who makes giving and serving a priority.”
With a background as a clinician, in recent years he has championed such causes as providing health coverage for children, strengthening community health centers, and improving the pipeline for bringing racial and ethnic diversity into the health professions.
“At The California Endowment, our giving is a partnership between the foundation and the community,” said Dr. Ross. “We know that just giving money will not necessarily result in change. It’s the community itself that makes the change. Our funding is just one of the vehicles that help communities get there.”
The evening’s master of ceremonies will be local KTLA TV co-anchor Chris Schauble and 94.7 Wave radio personality Pat Prescott. Said Schauble: “For many years the Brotherhood Crusade has served to uplift the greater Los Angeles community, and once again it’s my honor to serve this remarkable organization. I keep this night circled on my calendar because I consider it so special!” And about his co-host, he added: “If I’m working with Pat, I know it’s going to be an amazing night.”
Motown recording artist KEM will perform at the event. The singer’s latest album, What Christmas Means, was released this month and this year, KEM made his acting debut in the film Sparkle. A survivor of drug abuse and homelessness, he gives back through his foundation, Mack & Third, Inc., a non-profit corporation that benefits Detroit’s homeless community.
